Title: Two Large (Sutra Fragments), Circa 960–1200?. Extraordinarily Rare, 26 and 22-Line Sutra Fragments Likely from the Song Dynasty, Illuminated Manuscript on Indigo Dyed Paper. One Fragment from the Lotus Sutra
Condition: Very Good and Fair
Two extraordinarily rare and rather large, Song Dynasty, 10th to 12th century sutra fragments, the first being a 26-line section from the Miàofǎ Liánhuá Jīng, or Lotus Sutra, and a 22-line section from another, unidentified sutra.
These examples follow very closely in the Song to Tang Period style of illuminated sutra production, being golden ink inscribed on indigo dyed paper, in a larger script format, very similar to Northern Song Period productions, and without any illuminated borders, like those found among Japanese and Korean (and later Chinese sutra manuscripts of the 13th century onwards) examples from the Nara or Goryeo Periods and onwards. There are enough scriptural differences however, that do not identify these as Tang Period.
The fragments are written in a single column format, with up to 17 characters per column.
The manuscripts were part of a private collection purchase made in February 2025, these pieces which I initially noted as Heian Period by accident, owing to the presence of Heian and Kamakura Period fascicles in the purchased collection. It was not until studying in person that I noted the drastic differences.
The closest comparisons in terms of script and manufacture include the Song Fragment of a Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, Circa 800-900 at the British Library, and The Vimalakirti Sutra, Circa 1119, being item 47.18.2. I am unable to find any comparative examples at auction, of Chinese production.
Two illuminated manuscript fragments on indigo dyed paper, 28.9 x 49 and 28.9 x 48.7 cm
These manuscripts are in very good to fair shape, with minor rubbing and wear to the Lotus Sutra fragment, with some fading to a handful of characters, and several tiny worm tracks slightly impacting text. The other fragment has suffered heavier character loss, and the left side has been heavily worn and damaged, three lines of text being heavily impacted, and several tiny holes to a few other lines.