The Lotus Sutra, Chapter on the Prediction of the Buddha

Numerous copies of the Lotus Sutra have been made since the Heian period, and it is this sutra that is most commonly copied in Japan. Many people prayed for salvation and enlightenment for themselves and their families through the merits of copying the Lotus Sutra. In particular, in the late Heian period, many copies of ornately decorated sutras, known as "decorated sutras," were made. This sutra is a typical example of such a design, and its reverse side depicts a nobleman and woman conversing on a veranda in front of cherry blossoms in full bloom in a garden. The depictions of the cherry trees, the flowing water in the garden, and the earthen ledge display ancient Yamato-e techniques, and the facial expressions of the figures feature the style of "hikime-kagihana" (inverted eyes and hooked noses), also seen in the Tale of Genji Illustrated Scroll. All of these works exude a strong flavor of the imperial culture of the late Heian period. The paper is decorated with gold and silver haze, cut foil, and sand on both sides, and floral designs are also drawn above and below the margins. The main text, consisting of 114 lines with 17 characters per line, is meticulously written within the gold and silver paint borders.