About this Item
[Edo ca.1735-50]. A woodblock printed scroll sheet, 16 x 70 cm., blue ink printed on thin Washi paper, excellent image, very clean & solid, 2 folds, large margins, no issues. A RARE & EARLY EXAMPLE . *** **** *** . . . AN ORIGINAL MID-EDO PERIOD O-FUDA . . . A BUDDHIST SUTRA, A MAGICAL INCANTATION, A TALISMAN, . . . A BUDDHIST CHARM . . . WOODBLOCK PRINTED BY HAND ON HAND-MADE WASHI PAPER . . * This O-FUDA is an original illustrated holy Buddhist prayer charm. In the central cartouche is the standard incantation repeated as a form of trance, "NA MU AMIDA BUTSU" ["I Take Refuge in the Buddha"], written in bold Kanji characters. . Repeating this for hours produces a kind of trance state, rising above the normal awareness. This 'heavenly' state also comes when offering prayers to deceased relatives or simply praising the Buddha in a form of respectful obeisance. Other offers of fine incense, tapping a wooden bell or bronze bowl to distinguish your prayers are also used. . The balance of the Sutra is outside of the central large Kanji. This text is the full O-fuda for the chanted Sutra. . *** This is Sutra like others are for the most part undated. Its a matter of printing technique, type face, kind of Washi paper, other factors that gives this example a mid-Edo period circa date of 1735-1750. . This kind of O-fuda has been used for centuries by Buddhist worshipers at Buddhist shrines, or at home before one's altar to invoke the Buddha's blessing during prayer. . This type of O-fuda was also gifted to donors at local Buddhist temples. The typical colors are black. The blue example is quite unusual and RARE. It may also be a color of 'good luck' or 'good fortune' in Japan. . *** IMAGES POSTED TO OUR WEBSITE: Please note there are three variants to this item, each is described, please see the illustrated on our website, please note the differences: . Copy 1: Blue: please see cover.jpg right side, note due to stitching of two photographs, the blue example came out a bit smaller in the photo only, actually they are identical in size, see also illus06.jpg, blue in printed, a very nice example, no issues. . Copy 2: Black: please see cover.jpg left side, illus01.jpg thru illus05.jpg, black ink, no issues, very clean, solid. . Copy 3: Black: please see illus07 & illus08.jpg and note the mends to the back side, printed in black ink, else a very good example. . *** The acts of printing, woodblock carving, distributing and repeating Buddhist prayers or O-fuda earned a positive merit in the eyes of the Buddha. . *** CONDITION: These are genuine, woodblock printed original period items. There are some small mends on the back side, where the very thin tissue paper was prone to be too thin, or where there were some small closed tears. The work is solid, and firm. . Printed on hand-made mulberry fiber Washi paper. . ***. Seller Inventory # 24048903
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