Title: Jōdosanbukyō Kundoku (Reading of the Three Pure Land Sutras), Circa 1924-1927. Six Illuminated Manuscript Sutras containing the Buddhist Contemplation on the Sutra of Immeasurable life, Amitabha Sutra, Infinite Life Sutra, and Lotus Sutra
Author: Layman Zuo Ruyun
Condition: Very Good
A rather intriguing Taisho Period, early 20th century set of six illuminated manuscript fascicules, the main title being Jōdosanbukyō Kundoku, or a Reading of the Three Pure Land Sutras.
Contained is an unusual collection of several sutras, being a Buddhist Contemplation on the Sutra of Immeasurable life, the Amitabha Sutra, the Infinite Life Sutra, and Lotus Sutra, though only volumes 5 and 8 of 8 are present to the Lotus Sutra.
Each manuscript has been written on indigo-dyed paper, in beautiful golden ink, following the style of earlier illuminated sutra fascicules. The Lotus Sutra volumes have been written in standardized format, but the other four fascicules have been accompanied with a full suite of kundoku for Japanese readers, also fully illuminated.
There are colophons of varying dates from 1924 to 1927, and to the 8th and final volume of the Lotus Sutra is a colophon inscribed “Respectfully written by Layman Zuo Ruyun, a 63-year-old man from the Qing Dynasty”.
Each volume has been beautifully bound with brocade decorated covers, with golden flowering swirls against the dark background. There is a damaged wooden box to accompany the manuscripts, preserving the contents.
Six manuscript fascicules in orihon format (26.4 x 7.5 to 27.4 x 7.5cm in size), 64, 28, 80, 90, 130, 114
These manuscripts are in very good shape, with minimal rubbing and wear to the binding, with three of the title labels being worn down. A few pages are affected with minor, scattered soiling to the margins.