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Important Cultural Property

Letter to the Zen Master Fa Shu

法属禅師あて尺牘
Letter to the Zen Master Fa Shu (法属禅師あて尺牘)
PLATE IImage: Tokyo National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
At a glance — Calligraphy & Book · Heian period, 12th century · held by Tokyo National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Fact Sheet

Designation
Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Date
1101–1200
Location
Ueno, Tokyo
Catalogue ID
cobas-143537

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This is a letter of gratitude addressed to the Zen master Fa Shu. In it, the high monk Dahui Zonggao thanks Fa for sending him a letter and frankincense and reports his updates. Dahui's handwriting in this letter resembles that of the famed scholar Su Shi (1036–1101).

— Museum description: Tokyo National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Letter to the Zen Master Fa Shu(法属禅師あて尺牘).” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-143537. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/letter-to-the-zen-master-fa-shu/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
  • Genre: Asian Calligraphy
  • Material: Ink on paper
  • Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
  • 員数: 1幅
  • 分類: 東洋書跡
  • 品質形状: 紙本墨書
  • 法量: 37.9×73.3

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