{"product_id":"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","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","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eTitle: 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\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Very Good and Fair\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eTwo 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eThese 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. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eThe fragments are written in a single column format, with up to 17 characters per column.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eThe closest comparisons in terms of script and manufacture include the Song Fragment of a \u003ci\u003eMahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra\u003c\/i\u003e, Circa 800-900 at the British Library, and \u003ci\u003eThe Vimalakirti Sutra\u003c\/i\u003e, Circa 1119, being \u003cb\u003eitem 47.18.2\u003c\/b\u003e. I am unable to find any comparative examples at auction, of Chinese production.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eTwo illuminated manuscript fragments on indigo dyed paper, 28.9 x 49 and 28.9 x 48.7 cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eThese 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"That Guy With The Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51623342539063,"sku":null,"price":21875.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0281\/1589\/4371\/files\/20260102_205208.jpg?v=1769916608","url":"https:\/\/thatguywiththebooks.com\/products\/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","provider":"That Guy With The Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}