Jingoji Temple: Sutra Wrapper

JAPAN, Kyoto; Heian period

This sutra wrapper was used to store a Buddhist text in Jingoji Temple. A sutra cabinet would then contain a large number of sutra scrolls preserved in wrappers such as this.
The rectangular cover is woven with bamboo strips dyed in black serving as the weft, and various colored threads, such as purple, green, light blue, and dark blue, as the warp. The border has a pattern of flying birds woven in silk threads, with delicate butterfly brocades at the corners where the straps are attached. Another butterfly holds the two straps together to form a tassel. The tag identifies the Buddhist text and the scroll number.