Tsumugu Project set to restore more Japanese treasures in FY22

Courtesy of Shitennoji temple
One of the “Fan-shaped Booklets of the Lotus Sutra,” a national treasure owned by Shitennoji temple in Osaka Prefecture

The Yomiuri Shimbun

November 26, 2021

The Tsumugu Project has selected six assets, including the national treasure “Fan-shaped Booklets of the Lotus Sutra” from Shitennoji temple in Osaka Prefecture, to be restored in fiscal 2022.

The selection committee of the project, launched by the Cultural Affairs Agency, the Imperial Household Agency and The Yomiuri Shimbun, received requests from applicants and announced its final decision on Thursday.

The fan-shaped booklets, which date back to the late Heian period (late eighth to late 12th century), are beautifully decorated with drawings of customs followed by aristocrats and commoners. The art is painted as a background on the Lotus Sutra and other texts in the Yamato-e Japanese painting style, using fine mica and other materials.

In addition to the booklets, another national treasure, the “Illustrated Sutra of Cause and Effect” from Kyoto Prefecture’s Jobonrendaiji temple, and four important cultural assets were selected.

The four cultural assets are: “Landscape by Tohaku Hasegawa” from Rinkain temple in Kyoto Prefecture, “Standing Bishamonten (Vaisravana)” from Otokunidera temple in Kyoto Prefecture, “Historical Documents of Chomeiji temple” from Chomeiji temple in Shiga Prefecture and “Historical Documents of Tomyoji temple” from Tomyoji temple in Saga Prefecture.

Details about the six selected items will be included in The Yomiuri Shimbun at a later date.