二月堂焼経|Nigatsudō Burned Sutra
ca. 744
Medium
Hanging scroll; silver ink on indigo-dyed paper
Dimensions
Overall with mounting: 41 3/4 × 26 1/2 in. (106 × 67.3 cm) Overall with knobs: 41 3/4 in. × 28 5/8 in. × 1 in. (106 × 72.7 × 2.5 cm) Image: 9 7/8 × 21 1/4 in. (25.1 × 54 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
Japan · Nara period (710–794)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Mrs. Jackson Burke Gift, 1978
Accession Number
1981.75
Art Historical Context
Step into the serene world of Nara-period Japan (710–794) with *Nigatsudō Burned Sutra*, a rare hanging scroll created around 744 by an unidentified artist. This delicate work hails from the early days of Japanese Buddhism, when grand temples like Tōdai-ji flourished under imperial patronage. The title refers to Nigatsudō, the "Hall of the Second Month" at Tōdai-ji in Nara, famous for its ancient fire rituals. Miraculously, this sutra survived a devastating fire, earning its evocative name and symbolizing resilience and divine protection. Crafted on indigo-dyed paper—a vibrant blue achieved t...