“Copies of Saicho’s Taizhou and Mingzhou Kugen Certifications (Saicho Daishu Meishu kugen no utsushi) Enchin’s Request for Kugen Certification from Taizhou (Enchin Daishu kugen ukejo)”
Ink on Paper / One scroll of Three Documents
- [Document 1] Kugen Certificate from Taizhou
- [Document 2] Kugen Certificate from Mingzhou
- [Document 3] Request for a Kugen Certificate from Taizhou with Additions by Enchin
- original
- transcription
- original
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- original
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Enchin's thorough preparation for his mission to seek the Dharma in Tang China
The copies of Saicho's kugen certificates from Taizhou and Mingzhou are recreations of two kugen certificates (official certificates) given by the Governors of Taizhou and Mingzhou in 805, when Dengyo Daishi Saicho (767–822) returned from Tang China. Before heading to China, Enchin researched the precedent set by his predecessor Saicho and prepared copies of the kugen certificates to take with him.
- Category
- National Treasure
- Era
- Tang Dynasty, [Document 1] February 20, 805; [Document 2] May 13, 805; [Document 3] Second intercalary month of 858
- Measurements
- 29.6 × 454.0 cm
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