Treasures of JapanA catalogue of Japan's designated cultural properties
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Important Cultural Property

Words of Prayer

願文
Words of Prayer (願文)
PLATE IImage: Tokyo National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
At a glance — Calligraphy & Book · Kamakura period · held by Tokyo National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan · Jien.

Fact Sheet

Designation
Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Date
1224
Creator
Jien (慈円、前大僧正慈鎮、慈鎮大僧正)
Location
Ueno, Tokyo
Catalogue ID
cobas-56771

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The Buddhist priest Jien (1155–1225) was born to a powerful politician and became an influential religious leader. He wrote these prayers at the age of 70, when he became sick and sensed that death was approaching. Despite his failing health, he wrote the prayers in the stately script that he learned from his father.

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

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Words of Prayer（願文）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-56771. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/words-of-prayer-56771/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
  • Genre: Calligraphy
  • Material: Ink on paper
  • Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
  • 員数: 1巻
  • 分類: 書跡
  • 品質形状: 紙本墨書
  • 法量: 本紙 縦26.3 長193.7

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Important Cultural Property
Words of Prayer (願文)

Words of Prayer

願文
Calligraphy & Books · Kamakura, 1224TNM
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