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Important Cultural Property

Sutra of Forty-two Chapters

仏説四十二章経
Sutra of Forty-two Chapters (仏説四十二章経)
PLATE IImage: Kyoto National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
At a glance — Calligraphy & Book · Kamakura period, 13th century · held by Kyoto National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan · Rankei Doryu.

Fact Sheet

Designation
Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Date
1201–1300
Creator
Rankei Doryu (蘭渓道隆、大覚禅師)
Dimensions
Height30.3cmWidth435.4cm
Catalogue ID
cobas-3529

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This Sutra of Forty-two Chapters is a copy by the eminent Chinese Chan master Lanqi Daolong (Daikaku Zenji), who arrived in Japan in 1246. Later, the regent Hōjō Tokiyori (1227–1263) commissioned him with the founding of the Rinzai sect temple Kenchō-ji in Kamakura.

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

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Sutra of Forty-two Chapters（仏説四十二章経）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-3529. Kyoto National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/sutra-of-forty-two-chapters/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
  • Genre: Calligraphy
  • Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
  • Category: Calligraphy:Category:Books:Buddhist texts|Calligraphy:Region:Japan|Calligraphy:Period:Japan:Kamakura period
  • Size: Height30.3cmWidth435.4cm
  • 員数: 1巻
  • 分類: 書跡
  • 種別: 書跡:分類:典籍:仏典|書跡:地域:日本|書跡:時代:日本:鎌倉
  • 法量: 縦30.3cm:横435.4cm

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