Title: Yakushi Nyorai Hongan Kudoku He (The Medicine Buddha's Sutra of Merit), 1879. Manuscript Edition of this Famed Sutra in Three Fascicles, Finely Inked by Hand
Author: Commissioned for the Shiba(?) Clan
Condition: Very Good
An Early Edo Period, late 19th century manuscript edition of the Yakushi Nyorai Hongan Kudoku He or roughly translated to The Medicine Buddha's Sutra of Merit. This manuscript is dated to the Twelfth Year of the Meiji Era, being 1871.
First described in the Bhaiṣajya-guru-vaiḍūrya-prabha-rāja Sūtra, commonly called the Medicine Buddha Sutra, the Medicine Buddha, also known as Bhaisajyaguru, was first a bodhisattva who made twelve great vows, comprising a central part of the sutra.
Upon reaching Buddhahood, Bhaiṣajyaguru became the Buddha of the eastern pure land of Vaiḍūryanirbhāsa "Pure Lapis Lazuli” and has two bodhisattva attendants symbolizing the light of the sun and the light of the moon respectively.
The twelve vows range from ridding all beings of ignorance and sharing his brilliance with others, helping to lead those gone astray back to the path of righteousness, aiding the sick, elderly, and impoverished, and more.
Accompanying the main text is also what appears to be a series of hiragana. Most likely, it served as a reading aid for Buddhist devotees and practitioners who were unable to or struggled to reach kanji.
Each sutra has been written on fine paper, and coated with mica dust, further adding to its quality.
The text has been written in a 2-column format, with up to 7 lines per column.
The manuscripts bear contemporary provenance having been produced for by a member of a previously existing clan. The calligraphy is difficult to make out, but it seems to read something along the lines of the Shiba(?) Clan, or something similar.
Three manuscripts in orihon format (23.5 x 8.4 cm), 110, 110, 108 leaves
These manuscripts are in very good shape, with some rubbing and wear to the covers, with a bit of rodent gnawing, and minor loss to the title labels. A few leaf splits have early repairs to them. T There is very little foxing or staining throughout.