Jomyogenron (Jingming xuan lun; Commentary on the Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra)

The Jomyogenron (Jingming xuan lun) , in eight volumes, explains the essence of the Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra (Yuimagyo) . It was compiled by the Sanlun master Jizang (549-623) of Jiaxiang temple, who established the Buddhist School of Three Ideologies in Sui dynasty China. This copy, on hemp paper, has a postscript dated the twelfth month of 706 and is renowned as the oldest extant copy of dated Buddhist scriptures. In actuality, however, volume 1 was supplemented in the Heian period and volumes 2 and 5 were supplemented in the Kamakura period. The prefaces of volumes other than 7 and 8 were also copied at later dates. The calligraphy is in the manner of China's Six Dynasties, making it a valuable source for calligraphy historians. In addition, the notations on how to read Chinese into Japanese are important data for study of the Japanese language.

— Museum description: Kyoto National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.