ticketsMember | Make a donation

The Illustrated Sutra of Past and Present Karma (Kako genzai inga kyō emaki)

late 13th century
Not on view
Highly Sinicized figures meant to represent the Buddha’s father and his men occupy a landscape with a soft rolling hill and trees in a restrained color palette. Beneath the illustration, the scripture is executed in an attractive standard script (kaisho). The calligraphy relates how prince Siddhartha (the historical Buddha), having left the palace, travels to Mount Gaya, where his uncle lives, and practices asceticism for six years. The king dispatches ministers to report on his son’s activities and orders that he be brought one thousand cartfuls of daily necessities and watched over at all times.

This work is a section of one version of The Illustrated Sutra of Past and Present Karma (Kako genzai inga kyō emaki), a Buddhist scripture whose title is often colloquialized to The Illustrated Sutra of Cause and Effect (E-inga kyō). The first narrative known to have been painted in Japan, it details the lives, past and present, of the historical Buddha. The earliest examples of this work in Japan, which date to the eighth century, are thought to be copies of now lost Chinese originals from the Tang dynasty (618–907), or possibly even the Sui dynasty (581–618).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 『過去現在絵因果経』　断簡　(松永本)
  • Title: The Illustrated Sutra of Past and Present Karma (Kako genzai inga kyō emaki)
  • Artist: Unidentified artist Japanese, active late 13th century
  • Period: Kamakura period (1185–1333)
  • Date: late 13th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper
  • Dimensions: Image: 10 7/8 x 22 3/8 in. (27.6 x 56.8 cm)
    Overall with mounting: 43 1/2 x 23 1/4 in. (110.5 x 59.1 cm)
    Overall with knobs: 43 1/2 x 25 1/4 in. (110.5 x 64.1 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Purchase, several members of The Chairman's Council Gifts, Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Foundation and Mary and James G. Wallach Foundation Gifts, 2012
  • Object Number: 2012.249
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Portrait of a Member of the Family (?) of Emperor Tongzhi (1862–74)
Unidentified artist
19th century
Mountains in the Snow, Unidentified artist, Handscroll; Ink and color on silk, China
Mountains in the Snow
Unidentified artist
Liu Songnian
Illustrated Story of Yoshitsune, Unidentified artist, Monochrome woodblock print; ink on paper, Japan
Illustrated Story of Yoshitsune
Unidentified artist
One Hundred Poems of Moritake Illustrated with Comments, Unidentified artist, Two volumes; monochrome woodblock print; ink on paper, Japan
One Hundred Poems of Moritake Illustrated with Comments
Unidentified artist
Illustrated book
Unidentified artist

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.