Sanboin Temple: Amoghapasa Dharani Sutra

JAPAN, Wakayama, Ito; Nara period

With only 18 fascicles of the original work intact, this sutra illustrates the merits of the Bodhisattva, Amoghapasa Avalokitesvara. The piece was listed as a National Treasure in 1959.
The manuscript was trasncribed with delicate calligraphy, and two aspects stand out in particular. The first is the complexity of brushwork. This is seen in the sharp tip entrances, the short torsional strokes, and the termination treatments; each articulation embellishes the characters in a unique way. The second aspect is the spirited confidence displayed in the brushstrokes. A sense of determination is apparent in the thinly stretched horizontal strokes, particularly in the forceful sweep of the right-falling horizontal strokes. These qualities give the manuscript an unrestrained fervor.