“Kokonoe-no-Mamori“ Talisman scroll: The oldest dateable Japanese Talisman Scroll

Woodblock printed on gampi paper. 1010 cm x 7.3 cm; printed from 16 blocks (size of blocks: 68.3 x 6.1 cm). Backed with washi paper (19th – 20th century). Some insect damage, specifically at the end. At the beginning, there is a gilted fabric strip with a former owner`s name and his cipher: 大阿闍梨, 行遍, 法印, Daiajari, Gyohen, Hoin. Daiajari means "Great teacher", a title given to abbots of temples of the Shingon sect of esoteric Buddhism.

Gyohen is the name of the owner.

Hoin is the highest Buddhist rank.

Only one Daiajari, Gyohen, Hoin can be traced: Daiajari, Gyohen, Hoin (1181-1264), who was one of the four chief priests of To-ji Temple, Kyoto. He did remarkable work during the mid-Kamakura period. He received the title Hoin in 1250. Therefore, the inscription can be dated between 1250 and 1264.

In the former archives of the To-ji Temple, called Hyakugo Archives, now located in the Kyoto Institute, Library and Archives, there is a letter by Gyohen with a very similar cipher, dated 1242 (inventory number ヤ函/208).

The scroll must have been printed before 1264, the year of Gyohen`s death. Therefore, it is the oldest datable Japanese Talisman Scroll. There is only one of similar age: A Talisman Scroll, dated 1285, was found in 1963 in the portrait statue of Mukan Fuman (1212 – 1291), Ryugin`an Tōfukuji, Kyoto.

There exist two types talisman scrolls:

1. With portrait of Kukai (Kōbō Daishi, 弘法大師, founder of Shingon) at the end.

2. With portrait of Saicho, Dengyō Daishi 伝教大師, (founder of Tendai sect of esoteric Buddhism) at the end.

This one belongs to the second type.

About 20 early Japanese printed scriptures with printed illustrations are known to exist. They all date from the 13th to 16th century. They make up only a very small percentage of the total number of scriptures printed in Japan during those times.

Literature:

Helmut Brinker, Hiroshi Kanazawa, ZEN, Museum Rietberg, Zürich 1993.

Mosaku Ishida, Japanese Buddhist Prints, Kodansha, Toyo, 1967.

Atsuo Mitsui, Nihon no Bukkyōhanga - inori to mamori no sekai (日本の佛教版畫, 祈りと護 りの世界), Iwasaki bijutsusha, Tokyo, Shōwa 61 [1986].