This is the dedication scroll for a set of thirty-two scrolls -- the twenty-eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra (Sk. Saddharma pundarika sutra; J. Myohorengekyo or Hokekyo) and four additional sutras. Many of the scrolls in this remarkable set have found their way into public and private collections in the West. Chapters 12 and 14 are in the Mary and Jackson Burke Collection, Chapter 22 is in the Spencer Collection at the New York Public Library, and Chapter 27 is in the Hofer Collection, Harvard University Art Museums. For Chapters 2, 6, 10 and 15 see lots 339-42. When the scrolls were undergoing repair some years ago in the Kyoto studio of Fujioka Kaoru, it was found that Chapters 12 and 26 both had the date 1667 inscribed on their wood axles by the sutra mounter Hokkyo Ishun. The newly discovered dedicatory scroll shown here reveals that this set was indeed commissioned on the occasion of the sixteenth (seventeenth by Japanese count) anniversary of the death of Tokugawa Iemitsu (1604-1651), third shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate. The shogunate reached the height of its power under Iemitsu's rule. He was responsible, among other things, for intensifying the persecution of Christians and for a strict national seclusion policy. In 1667 his eldest son, Tokugawa Ietsuna (1641-1680) was in office as shogun.

Examination has revealed an inscription at the end of Chapters 2 and 10 of the Lotus Sutra with a date of 1636 and the name of the sutra specialist Hogen Doi as well as the names of several other artisans.

An extraordinary aestheticism surrounded the cult of the Lotus Sutra in the late Heian period, especially the twelfth century. On the whole it is certain that the tradition of illustrated sutras went into decline after the thirteenth century in direct response to the decreasing fortunes of the aristocracy, but there are a few noteworthy exceptions, including the 1667 set. This is an especially gorgeous set, commissioned by a group of thirty-two of the most important men of the day -- high-ranking courtiers in Kyoto and abbots of all the great Buddhist temples in and around the capital. There was one sponsor for each of the twenty-eight chapters of the Lotus Sutra, and one for each of the four sutras that often accompany the Lotus Sutra. By joining together the individuals all accumulated spiritual merit, a tradition of co-sponsorship that has its origins in the Heian period. The dedicatory scroll, as transcribed below, lists each of the scrolls as well as the temple or location of the sponsor and his full title.

This set is very similar in concept and technique to a group of scrolls of the Lotus Sutra and accompanying texts dedicated in 1715 to the Rinnoji, a temple on the grounds of the well-known Toshogu Shrine, a mausoleum erected in 1617 to the memory of the deified first shogun, Ieyasu (1542-1616), at Nikko. Those scrolls were presented in a shimmering, three-tiered gold-lacquered sutra box with seascape decor. The inventory or index prepared for the 1715 dedication indicates that the set was presented by the court on the occasion of the one-hundreth anniversary of the death of Ieyasu and that the famous calligrapher Konoe Iehiro (1667-1736), son of Motohiro, who sponsored Chapter 6 of the 1667 set, was among the court nobles who participated in the transcription (Rinnoji hokan, eds., Nikkosan Rinnoji hokan [Handbook of Rinnoji at Nikko], [Tokyo: Tokyo bijutsu, 1966], p. 126). Although most annual festivals at Nikko were carried out with Shinto rituals, the anniversary of the death of the shogun was observed with Buddhist rites. Rinnoji was an important temple of the Tendai sect and its buildings included a Hokedo, or chapel for meditation of the Lotus Sutra. Since at least the fourteenth century the chief abbot had generally been a member of the imperial family. (Note that Sonkei, sponsor of Chapter 28 of the 1667 set, is identified as abbot of Rinnoji.)

It appears that the court was in the habit of offering illuminated Lotus Sutras to the Toshogu at regular intervals. The brocade covers and gilt-bronze fittings on the crystal roller ends bear the tripartite hollyhock crest of the Tokugawa clan.

The lavish use of gold and elaborate decorative techniques (designs in the text margins and on the back are stenciled in gold, silver, and various colors) have caused these scrolls to be dubbed the Heike Nogyo of the Edo period, after the famous set commissioned in 1164 by Taira Kiyomori and dedicated to Itsukushima Shrine. Such extravagance could be expected of a group of aristocrats and wealthy clergy. The miniature scale, fine craftsmanship, and refined delicacy are qualities associated with Tosa artists and the Imperial Painting Bureau in the seventeenth century. Unlike the more simple and evocative frontispieces of illuminated sutras dating from the Heian period, multiplicity of detail and horror vacui characterize these scrolls. The insistent use of small, geometric patterns in the background and the off-center three-quarter view of the Buddha are strongly reminiscent of Korean models, which may have been enjoying a vogue in Japan at the time.

Muryogikyo
Kanshuji Daisozu Kanshun (d. 1682)
Lotus Sutra
Ch. 1. Jobon
Yamashiro Myohoin Tendai Zasu Gyojo Hoshinno (d. 1695)
Ch. 2. Hobenbon
Emmanin Zen (former) Daisojo Joson (d. 1671)
Ch. 3. Hiyubon
Ninnaji Nihon (second rank) Shojo Hoshinno (d. 1678)
Ch. 4. Shingebon
Shokoin Nihon Michiakira Hoshinno (d. 1679)
Ch. 5. Yakusoyubon
Daikakuji Nihon Shoshin Hoshinno (d. 1696)
Ch. 6. Jukibon
Naidaijin Konoe Motohiro (1648-1722)
Ch. 7. Kejoyubon
Zuishinin Daisozu Shinkai (d. 1682)
Ch. 8. Gohyakudeshibon
Joshuin Nihon Jiin Hoshinno (d. 1699)
Ch. 9. Ninkibon
Daijoin Daisozu Nobumasa
Ch. 10. Hosshibon
Yanagihara Zen Dainagon Sukeyuki (d. 1679)
Ch. 11. Hotobon
Hino Zen Dainagon Hirosuke (d. 1687)
Ch. 12. Daibabon
Ichijoin Muhon (without rank) Shinkei Hoshinno (d. 1706)
Ch. 13. Kanjibon
Sanjonishi Zen Dainagon Sanenori (d. 1701)
Ch. 14. Anrakugyobon
Manjuin Nihon Ryosho Hoshinno (d. 1693)
Ch. 15. Yujutsubon
Samboin Gonsojo Takakata (d. 1707)
Ch. 16. Juryobon
Nakanoin Gondainagon Michishige (d. 1710)
Ch. 17. Funbetsukudokubon
Imadegawa Gondainagon Kiminori (d. 1697)
Ch. 18. Zuikikudokubon
Ogimachi Zen Dainagon Sanetoyo (d. 1703)
Ch. 19. Hoshikudokubon
En Gondainagon Motofuku (d. 1699)
Ch. 20. Fugyobon
Shogoin Nihon Dokan Hoshinno (d. 1676)
Ch. 21. Jinrikibon
Asukai Zendainagon Masaakira (d. 1679)
Ch. 22. Zokuruibon
Oinomikado Gondainagon Tsunemitsu (d. 1704)
Ch. 23. Yakuobon
Bishamondo Zen Daisojo Kokai (d. 1695)
Ch. 24. Myoonbon
Sainoji Zen Udaijin Saneharu (d. 1673)
Ch. 25. Fumonbon
Karasumaru Zen Dainagon Sukeyoshi (d. 1669)
Ch. 26. Daranibon
Shorenin Muhon Sonsho Hoshinno (d. 1694)
Ch. 27. Gonobon
Udaijin Kujo Kaneharu (d. 1677)
Ch. 28. Kanpotsubon
Rinnoji Ippon Sonkei Hoshinno
Kanfugenkyo
Zen Udaijin, Koga Hiromichi Ko (Lord) (d. 1674)
Amidakyo
Chionin Nihon Sonko Hoshinno (d. 1680)
Hannyashingyo
Zen Sessho (?) Nijo Mitsuhira Ko (d. 1682)