Title: Taima Mandala Sougensho (A Commentary on the Taima Mandala), 1772. With a Heavily Illustrated Seventh Volume. Seven Volumes
Author: Seishu; Shaku; Selected by Daijun
Publisher: Imperial Capital
Condition: Very Good
A Late Edo Period, late 18th century edition of the Taima Mandala Sougensho, otherwise known as the Commentary on the Taima Mandala.
The Taima Mandala is an 8th century Mandala that depicts Sukhavati, the western Pure Land, with the Buddha Amitābha, originally created around 763 AD, and is currently kept at the Taima-dera temple in Nara. Since then, many copies have been made as well as commentaries and texts such as this one regarding the mandala.
Though the first six volumes are not illustrated, volume seven makes up for that with 78 pages of woodblock illustrations throughout, depicting the headgear of heavenly figures, and some full-page woodblock illustrations of various processions of different Bodhisattva, as well as the Amida Raigo Descent, and other scenes.
Seven volumes in quarto (27.4 x 18.2 cm), 48, 43, 57, 46, 37, 41, 61 leaves
These volumes are in very good shape, with some rubbing and wear to the bindings, heaviest to volume 7. There is some worming to the upper and lower margins of volumes, 3 and 7, with very minor worming noted to the others. The lower page corners of volume 7 are more heavily worn.