Segment of the Lotus Sutra (Hoke-kyō) 1167 - 1185

This fragment of the Lotus Sutra, rendered by Kujō Kanezane, presents a striking interplay between text and texture, revealing profound insights into the integration of form and content. The vertical lines of meticulously brushed characters cascade down a narrow panel. The dark ink contrasts against the muted gold-flecked paper creating a visual rhythm that guides the viewer’s eye. The deliberate arrangement of the characters transforms the text into a visual field. The gold leaf, scattered across the surface, introduces an element of instability, challenging the fixity of meaning and inviting contemplation. The materiality of the scroll—the aged paper, the deliberate brushstrokes, the fragmented gold—serves as a powerful signifier. This fragment destabilizes established meanings, engaging with new ways of thinking about space, perception, and representation. Its beauty resides not only in its aesthetic qualities but also in its capacity to foster a deeper understanding of the cultural and philosophical discourse of its time.