The May 1st Sutra: conservation of a Nara‐period handscroll

Abstract

Abstract Kōmyō kōgō gogankyō (), more commonly referred to as Gogatsu tsuitachi‐kyō () or May 1st Sutra, is the largest extant set of eighth‐century Japanese sutras. Commissioned by Empress Kōmyō (701–760 CE), the details of its large‐scale production are recorded in numerous Shōsōin (Imperial Repository) documents. Not only is it regarded as the finest example of Nara‐period sutras in terms of the quality of its calligraphy, it also holds enormous historical value for scholars of Buddhism and classical Japanese linguistics. It has been given the designation ‘Important Cultural Property’ by the Bunkachō (Agency for Cultural Affairs) and is rarely seen outside of Japan. One handscroll from the sutra set belongs to the collection of the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Discovered inside a Kamakura period (1185–1333 CE) wooden sculpture of Amida Buddha during the Meiji period (1867–1911 CE), the sutra had suffered damage from insect attack, exposure to moisture, and previous restoration. The scroll la...