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

Zoku Kosoden (Continued Biographies of Eminent Priests), Volume 28 (Offered by Empress Komyo on the

続高僧伝巻第二十八（光明皇后御願経・五月一日経）
Zoku Kosoden (Continued Biographies of Eminent Priests), Volume 28 (Offered by Empress Komyo on the (続高僧伝巻第二十八（光明皇后御願経・五月一日経）)
PLATE IImage: Kyoto National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
At a glance — Calligraphy & Book · Nara period, 8th century · held by Kyoto National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Fact Sheet

Designation
Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Date
701–800
Dimensions
Height26.7cm:Width751cm
Catalogue ID
cobas-4465

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This is one manuscript from a set of copied sutras donated by Empress Komyo (701-760) for the memorial service of her deceased parents Fujiwara Fuhito and Lady Tachibana, as well as to confirm her own faith in Buddhism. Although these manuscripts were copied over a period of more than ten years, beginning in 738, they came to be known as the Sutras of the First Day of the Fifth Month, because they were dated on this day in 740. From its format and calligraphic style, this set is considered to represent the zenith of copied sutras from the Nara period.

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

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Zoku Kosoden (Continued Biographies of Eminent Priests), Volume 28 (Offered by Empress Komyo on the（続高僧伝巻第二十八（光明皇后御願経・五月一日経））.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-4465. Kyoto National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/zoku-kosoden-continued-biographies-of-eminent-priests-volume-28-offered-by-empress-komyo/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
  • Genre: Calligraphy
  • Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
  • Category: Calligraphy:Category:Books:Buddhist texts|Calligraphy:Region:Japan|Calligraphy:Period:Japan:Nara period
  • Size: Height26.7cm:Width751cm
  • 員数: 1巻
  • 分類: 書跡
  • 種別: 書跡:分類:典籍:仏典|書跡:地域:日本|書跡:時代:日本:奈良
  • 法量: 縦26.7cm:横751cm
  • 銘文等: 「東大寺印」の朱印あり・天平十二年五月一日 光明皇后御願経の奥書あり

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