Lotus Sutra

CHINA; Tang dynasty

The cover of this piece is written with the title, “One Copy of the Lotus Sutra.” The sutra text begins with the caption, “Seven Fascicles of the Lotus Sutra Compiled as One Copy,” indicating that the entire 20 m long scroll is comprised of seven fascicles of the Lotus Sutra, stitched together into one long manuscript. Each line consists of 32 characters, and as the text is densely written, the work is often referred to as the Lotus Sutra in Fine Characters. A single-line inscription at the end of the scroll by Li Yuanhui states that the work was completed in 694 of the Tang dynasty. The inscription further identifies the copyist as Li himself, and that the work was written in Yangzhou. Three of the characters, “nian” (year), “yue” (month), and “ri” (day), were written as reinvented characters devised by Empress Wu Zetian. The scroll was listed as a National Treasure of Japan in 1958.
As there are a variety of calligraphic styles seen throughout the scroll, it is likely that several scribes were involved in its creation. The characters at the beginning appear broad in width and generous in spacing, but the rounding off of the brush tips are unimpressive. In other areas, where there is heavy pressure applied, strokes appear steadfast and refined. The work is valued for its occasional frankness which shows through the bold but cordial strokes, a subtle quality that is often favored over the elaborate characteristics of other works.