Mahaprajnaparamita, the Great Wisdom Sutra, from the Chusonji Temple (Chusonjikyo), Volume 86

The style of this sutra, alternately placing calligraphy in gold and silver indicates that this sutra was one of more than five thousand scrolls from the Great Wisdom, known in Snskrit as the Mahaprajnaparamita and in Japanese as the Daihannyakyo. The Chusonji monjo (abbreviated history of Chusonji) records that Fujiwara Kiyohira (1056-1128) sponsored the compendium around 1117, the date that appears on one of the sutra in the set. It is believed that the monk-calligrapher Renko spent about eight years to complete the set before the commemoration of the construction of Chusonji Temple. Even thought the clear reason is unknown, most of the scrolls from the set were transferred to Kongobu-ji, the Shingon temple on Mount Koya in late 16^th century and registered as national treasure.
This sutra exemplifies the highest standard of sutra production in gold and silver ink on colored paper. Gold ink was believed to be emblematic of the radiant light of the Buddha, the silver ruled lines to revere his teachings and the indigo-dyed paper to symbolize a lapis lazuli Buddha world. Transcribing and sponsoring sutras were believed to accrue merit and to enhance one’s chances for rebirth in Buddha’s paradise. Each of the scrolls opens with a frontispiece illustration of the Buddha teaching the Dharma below a frieze of jagged mountains symbolizing Vulture Peak, the ancient site of Rajagaha, present-day Rajgir, Bihar State, India, a favorite retreat of the Historical Buddha Shakyamuni. The sutras are enclosed in indigo-dyed paper wrappers designed with feather-like floral scroll (J. hosoge karakusa) picked out in gold and silver against a silver ground. The wood scroll axles have gilded metal terminals engraved with a fish-roe pattern.