Jingoji Sutra and Wrapper
Late 12th century
Medium
Gold and silver pigments on indigo-dyed paper, bamboo, silk, mica, and gilt bronze.
Dimensions
25.8 (28.9 with knobs) × 1,289 cm
Classification
painting
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
193241
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The second half of the 12th century was a time of great political instability in Japan. Aristocrats felt as if they were living in an age of mappo, or Buddhist decline, and were preoccupied with the afterlife. This sutra is part of a famous set of 5,000 scriptures likely commissioned by Emperor Toba (1103–1156) and completed by his son, Emperor Go-Shirakawa (1127–1192), in 1185. The frontispiece of the sutra shows the Buddha preaching at Vulture Peak. At the beginning of the text is the seal of ...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...