Hyaku-man-to Dharani [One Million Pagodas and Dharani Sutras]

Title

Hyaku-man-to Dharani [One Million Pagodas and Dharani Sutras]

Date

c. 764

Format

Description

In 764, Empress Shotoku decreed that a million prayers be printed. Each prayer, dharani, was to be housed in its own wooden pagoda, "hyaku-man to." The printed prayers and pagodas were deposited in temples according to the wishes of the Empress. Today, only Horyuji Temple, from which the University of Hawai'i dharani came, retains many of the one million prayers. The scrolls are the earliest form of printing on paper in the world.

Is Part Of

Asia - Japan Collection, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library

Page Location

105