Translator: Bukong 不空, also known as Amoghavajra, 6th master in the lineage of esoteric Buddhism in China, 705-74. Imprint: N.p. [Kyōto, Tōji 東寺] , Jōō 3, 1224. Kango / ganmon at end of maki 下 reads: 貞應三季甲申初秋之比為果宿慮之 ／ 蓄懐既盡彫刻之微力而已 ／ 願主權僧正法印大和尚位覺教 ／ 經生阿闍梨大法師禪海 ／ 彫手大法師實永. Description: 3 kan, 3 rolls (巻子本), in a wooden box. Originally published in roll form, converted to orihon form at an early date (width of orihon half-fold 7.5 cm.), then re-backed and again made up in roll form in recent times. Each sheet of the original kansubon measures c. 24.2 cm. (height) x c. 47 cm. (width). Although now reconstituted in roll form, the orihon fold-marks are still clearly visible. Blockprint. Printing frame 20-20.6 cm. (height). No borders. No rules between columns of text. Kanbun text, with manuscript kutōten and shōten in red and kundoku in black katakana added at an early period, before conversion to orihon form. 4 lines to each former half-fold (orihon), 17 characters to line. Renewed end covers of blue paper, with hand-lettered title slips (c. late-Edo or early Meiji period ?) sprinkled with gold dust. Gedai: 佛母大孔雀明王經巻上 (中, 下). Title from gedai and from naidai at head of each maki. Ivory rollers. Edition: Tōji-ban. The earliest work known to have been printed at this monastery. The kango / ganmon is noteworthy in recording the date of publication (Jōō 3, 1224), name of ganshu (Kakukyō 覺教, 1167-1242), name of copyist who wrote the hanshita (Zenkai 禪海) and name of block-cutter (Jitsuei 實永). Tōji 東寺 monastery is not named in the kango, but since the ganshu Kakukyō was 24th in the line of chief priests (chōja 長者) at Tōji, there seems little doubt that Tōji was the place of publication. Contents: An important work in Shingon literature, expounding the efficacy of the spells and mantras said to have been uttered by the deity Daikujaku myōō 大孔雀明王, who is represented as mounted on a peacock. Translated from the Sanskrit Mahāmayūrī-vidyārājñī by Amoghavajra (Bukong 不空). In this copy the preface is lacking and the text (honmon 本文) is preceded by an introductory section headed 讀誦佛母大孔雀明王經前啓請法.
Butsumo daikujaku myōōgyō 佛母大孔雀明王經 [仏母大孔雀明王経]
This material is held atBritish Library Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections
- Reference
- GB 59 Or.74.cc.14
- Dates of Creation
- 1224
- Language of Material
- Japanese
- Physical Description
- 3 scrolls Condition: Fair to good. Worm damage and split orihon folds have been effectively repaired by urauchi re-backing, using mica-sprinkled paper of fairly recent date. The most serious defect is damage by fire to many parts of maki 上, especially the first 5 sheets. Printed text of the first 12 lines is missing altogether and has been supplied in manuscript at an early date, as also have missing passages of text in gaps on other sheets. Impression: For the most part sharp and clear, but with some evidence of block wear. Seals of ownership: None. According to Kōbunsō's catalogue (see References below), this copy was formerly owned by Tōji, Kanchiin 東寺觀院智院. Manuscript notes: Note in black ink following bidai and preceding kango at end of maki 下 reads: 護持大施主親王殿下諸不吉祥未然鎖除御願圓満.
Scope and Content
Access Information
Not Public Record(s)
Unrestricted
Acquisition Information
Acquired from Kōbunsō, 28 April 1971.
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 9. Shingon sect 真言宗
Bibliography
Bussho kaisetsu daijiten 仏書解説大辞典, vol. 9, p. 341; Butten kaidai daijiten 仏典解題事典, p. 103; Kokuritsu kokkai toshokan shozō kichōsho kaidai 国立国会図書館所蔵貴重書解題, vol. 1, p. 11; Ryūmon bunko zenpon shomoku 竜門文庫善本書目, p. 110; Kōbunsō taika koshomoku 弘文荘待賈古書目, no. 37, pp. 5-7.