Treasures of JapanA catalogue of Japan's designated cultural properties
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Important Cultural Property

Words of Prayer by the Wife of Saionji Saneuji

西園寺実氏夫人願文
Words of Prayer by the Wife of Saionji Saneuji (西園寺実氏夫人願文)
PLATE IImage: Tokyo National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
At a glance — Calligraphy & Book · Kamakura period · held by Tokyo National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan · Sesonji Tsunetada.

Fact Sheet

Designation
Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Date
1282
Creator
Sesonji Tsunetada (世尊寺経尹、宮内卿経尹、従二位経尹)
Location
Ueno, Tokyo
Catalogue ID
cobas-56925

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Japan’s nobility were devout followers of Buddhism. Written in elegant calligraphy over pictures in gold and silver, this text contains prayers for a good afterlife. It was read in 1282 during a Buddhist ritual for the noblewoman Fujiwara no Sadako. She held this ritual in anticipation of her death, yet lived to celebrate her 90th birthday three years later.

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

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Words of Prayer by the Wife of Saionji Saneuji（西園寺実氏夫人願文）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-56925. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/words-of-prayer-by-the-wife-of-saionji-saneuji/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
  • Genre: Calligraphy
  • Material: Ink on decorated paper
  • Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
  • 員数: 1巻
  • 分類: 書跡
  • 品質形状: 彩箋墨書

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