Variant title: Muryōjukyō 無量壽經 [無量寿経]. Translator: Kangsengkai (魏) 康僧鎧, 3rd century, also known by the Sanskrit name of Saṃghavarman. Imprint: N.p., n.d. [Published mid- to late-Kamakura period, c. 1260-1300, but this copy printed somewhat later.] No colophon. Description: 2 kan, 2 jō, now rebound in 1 vol. western style. Formerly detchō binding. (上) ff. [45]; (下) ff. [46] . (Each pair of leaves is numbered at the inner (binding) edge; numbering obscured by present binding.) 25.9 x 16.8 cm. Folios printed on both sides. Blockprint. Printing frame 21-22 x 12.5 cm. No borders. Kanbun text, with katakana kunten and kaeriten added in black ink, possibly dating from late-Kamakura period. 6 lines to page, 17 characters to line. Dark blue front covers of maki 上 and 下, either original or added in Muromachi period. Decorative gold-painted title slips on left, with manuscript gedai: Muryōjukyō jō 无量壽經上 (ge 下) : Title from naidai. Both maki contained within a half-leather western style binding. Text paper: thick, smooth ganpi (or a mixture of ganpi and kōzo). Edition: Jōdokyō-ban. An undated edition, identical in hanshiki, jikei 字形 and text paper with the other two sutras of the Jōdo sanbukyō 浄土三部經 (see ORB.30/155 and ORB.30/163). Clearly, all three were printed at the same time and place, as a set. Contents: Text of the Sukhāvatī-vyūha or Aparimitāyuḥ-sūtra, translated into Chinese by Kangsengkai in 252. One of the three basic sutras of Pure Land teaching, explaining the means whereby rebirth in the Pure Land may be attained by invoking the name of Amida. The other two component sutras of the Jōdo sanbukyō 浄土三部經 are: Kan muryōjukyō 觀無量壽經 and Amidakyō 阿彌陀經 (see ORB.30/155 and ORB.30/163).
Bussetsu muryōjukyō 佛説無量壽經 [仏説無量寿経]
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- ReferenceGB 59 ORB 30/156
- Dates of Creation[1260-1300]
- Language of MaterialJapanese
- Physical Description1 volume Condition: Good, apart from minor worm damage and some soiled leaves due to unskilful erasure of notes. Impression: Slightly atozuri, though blocks for the most part do not show marked signs of wear. Seals of ownership: None. Manuscript notes: Some marginal and interlinear notes in maki 下 have been clumsily erased, leaving dark smears.
Scope and Content
Access Information
Not Public Record(s)
Unrestricted
Acquisition Information
Acquired from Ernest M. Satow, 22 Sept. 1884.
Other Finding Aids
Kenneth Gardner, Descriptive Catalogue of Japanese books in the British Library printed before 1700 (London and Tenri, 1993). B. Buddhist works 仏書 4. Jōdo, jōdo shinshū sects 浄土・浄土真宗
Bibliography
Bussho kaisetsu daijiten 仏書解説大辞典, vol. 6, p. 72, vol. 10, p. 427; Butten kaidai daijiten 仏典解題事典, p. 87; Kokatsujiban no kenkyū 古活字版の研究, p. 44; Jōdokyō-ban no kenkyū 浄土教版の研究, pp. 32, 38, 59, 92, 104, 110 and passim; Nihon koinsatsu bunkashi 日本古印刷文化史, p. 113 and passim.