Commentary on the Vimalakirti Sutra

JAPAN; Asuka period

Originally compiled by Master Jizang of Jiaxiang Temple, this commentary in eight fascicles is a Japanese copy. The piece features a postscript dating to the year 706 of the Asuka period (538–645), making it the world’s earliest dated copy of a Buddhist manuscript. Several of the volumes, however, were written during different periods of Japanese history, including the Heian (794–1185) and Kamakura (1185–1333) periods, and later. Primarily describing the essentials of the Vimalakirti Sutra, which was a popular sutra at the time, the commentary by Master Jizang spread to Japan relatively early. This particular copy was likely created within 100 years of its original writing, deeming it a trustworthy source for research on the calligraphic and Buddhist histories of Japan. The manuscript was listed as a National Treasure of Japan in 1974.
Scripted in the style of the Six Dynasties (220–589) of China, the calligraphy features swift brushstrokes in a combination of regular and running scripts. Nevertheless, the strokes retain the characteristics of early clerical script style, and have a strong and uninhibited essence that is not often found in similar manuscripts.