Record of Seeking the Dharma at a Kaiyuan Temple (Kaigen-ji guho mokuroku)Additions by Enchin

Ink on Paper / One Scroll of Four Sheets

  • original
  • transcription

A Kaiyuan Temple in Fuzhou, known for its connection with Kobo Daishi

A catalog of 156 volumes of sutras and commentaries acquired by Enchin during his stay of about one month at Kaiyuan Temple in Fuzhou (Fujian Province), immediately after his arrival in Tang China in August 853. Here, Enchin learned Siddham (Sanskrit characters) and mudra hand signs from the Tripitaka Master Prajna Tala 般若怛羅三蔵 (name in Japanese: Hannyatara Sanzo), who had come from the great Nalanda Temple in India, and this catalog includes the bonkyo sutras granted to him by Prajna Tala. Bonkyo refers to writings on leaves, mainly palmyra leaves, used as a substitute for paper in ancient India when Sanskrit sutras were written. Enchin's handwriting can be seen in the last seven lines of the scroll. The Sanskrit manuscripts granted to Enchin still exist and have been designated as a national treasure.

Category
National Treasure
Era
September 21, 853, as written at the end of the scroll
Measurements
31.3 × 180.0 cm

Related Documents and Texts

menu