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法華堂根本曼荼羅図
Shaka, the Historical Buddha, Preaching on Vulture Peak
法華堂根本曼荼羅図
Japanese
Nara period
8th century
Medium/Technique
Panel; ink, color, and gold on ramie
Dimensions
107.1 x 143.5cm (42 3/16 x 56 1/2in.)
Credit Line
William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.6120
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia
ClassificationsPaintings
Catalogue Raisonné
MFA, Japanese Masterpieces (2012), #5; MFA Highlights: Arts of Japan (2008), p. 48; Kajima Foundation MFA cat. 1 (Japanese ed. 1997, English ed. 1998), ch. I (Buddhist & Shinto ptg.), no. 1
Inscriptions法華堂根本曼陀羅/右曼陀羅者霊山之變相天竺之/眞本也 而釋迦座已下皆悉破壊/畢 或自然損失或人以切取多送/星霜不知年紀 爰久安四秊三月/以寺儈已講大法師珍海殊令修補/是稟家風尤巧畫 之故也 爲/貽來葉粗記子細而已/別當法務権大儈都寛信 [裏書]
ProvenanceEighth century, made for the temple complex of Tōdai-ji, Nara, Japan; about 1868, probably removed from Tōdai-ji [see note 1]. 1886, sold by Kiryū kōshō kaisha (The First Japanese Manufacturing and Trading Company), Tokyo, to William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850 - d. 1926) [see note 2]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: August 3, 1911)
NOTES:
[1] In 1726, this was moved from the Konshū-in, a sub-temple, to the Shinzen-in, another sub-temple, for display as a temple treasure. It was probably removed during the Meiji era (1868-1912), at which time many Buddhist temples lost much of their financial support and were separated from Shinto shrines; their contents were often sold or otherwise dispersed before they were disbanded.
NOTES:
[1] In 1726, this was moved from the Konshū-in, a sub-temple, to the Shinzen-in, another sub-temple, for display as a temple treasure. It was probably removed during the Meiji era (1868-1912), at which time many Buddhist temples lost much of their financial support and were separated from Shinto shrines; their contents were often sold or otherwise dispersed before they were disbanded.