Section of "The Emergence of the Treasure Tower," with Pagoda Decoration, Chapter 11 of the Lotus Sutra
Object Details
- Provenance
- 12th Century, CE-?
- Togakushi Shrine (formerly Kenkōji Temple), Nagano Prefecture, Japan [1]
- ?-1991
- London Gallery, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, method of acquisition unknown [2]
- 1991-2013
- Sylvan Barnet (1926-2016) and William Burto (1921-2013) (owned jointly), purchased from London Gallery, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan [3]
- 2013-2014
- Sylvan Barnet and National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, bequeathed by William Burto to the Smithsonian [4]
- From 2014
- National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, gift of Sylvan Barnet and William Burto [5]
- Notes:
- [1] See Miyeko Murase, et al., “The Written Image: Japanese Calligraphy and Painting from the Sylvan Barnet and William Burto Collection” [exhibition catalog] (New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, October 1, 2002- March 2, 2003), p. 48-49, cat. 5. For the catalog entry, Masako Watanabe wrote, “This fragment is part of a ten-scroll set of the Lotus Sutra decorated with jeweled pagodas…Togakushi shrine in northwest Nagano prefecture, which once owned the set, today preserves parts of four scrolls.” See also the “History of Togakushi Shrine,” Togakushi-jinja, accessed May 31, 2024, https://www.togakushi-jinja.jp/english/.
- [2] See object file for London Gallery, Ltd., invoice to Sylvan Barnet and William Burto, dated January 12, 1991, for the object described as “1 Togakushi-gire Calligraphy Sutra; 19 lines. Attributed to Fujiwara Sadanobu.” Additionally, see Ōkura Shūkokan, “Nenge mishō: Bukkyō bijutsu no miryoku/ Buddha’s Smile: Masterpieces of Japanese Buddhist Art” [exhibition catalog] (Tōkyō: London Gallery, Ltd., 2000), pp. 238-239; cat. 47.
- Tajima Mitsuru (born ca. 1936) is a Japanese collector and art dealer who developed the London Gallery in Tokyo, Japan. Opened in the late 20th century, the gallery specializes in art and archaeological material of Asia. In 1963, at the age of twenty-seven, Tajima traveled to the United States and joined the collector and dealer Harry Packard on a cross-country trip, visiting museums and collectors, including Avery Brundage.
- [3] See note 2. See also object file F2014.6.1-19 “Japan, Heian period, Group of Calligraphies, Gift of Sylvan Barnet and William Burto. Documents: 2004-2013” for Gift Agreement between the Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and Sylvan Barnet and William Burto. Signed by the Director on August 9, 2004, and counter-signed by Barnet and Burto August 13, 2004. The object is described as “Lotus Sutra, chapter 11 from the Togakushigire manuscript; ELS 2004.1.15.” Additionally, see object file for a copy of the “Will of William Burto,” signed and dated February 14, 2011, Article I, “Executor. I appoint Sylvan Barnet, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to be Executor of this will,” and Article II, “I give my art collection as follows: (1) To the Smithsonian Institution, Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., all of my right, title and interest, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all copyright and associated rights, in the following works of art,” including “Lotus Sutra, chapter 11 from the Togakushigire manuscript,” described as “Segment of a handscroll mounted as a hanging scroll; ink on paper.” See also The William Burto Revocable Trust, signed and dated June 9, 2011.
- Sylvan Barnet (1926-2015) and William Burto (1921-2013) were scholars of English literature and collectors of Asian art, focusing on Korean and Japanese works. The two amassed one of the finest private collections of Zen calligraphy, which featured works from the Nara through the Edo periods. As a professor of English literature at Tufts University in the early 1960s, Barnet proposed unique editions of Shakespeare plays, complete with introductions and study aids, to New American Library. The publishing house would produce “The Signet Classic Shakespeare” from 1963 to 1972. Barnet served as general editor as well as providing introductions for several plays, and these popular editions were widely adopted by universities throughout the United States.
- Barnet and Burto purchased their first object, a Korean celadon bowl, in New York in 1963. Just a few years later, they purchased their first calligraphy from Nathan V. Hammer, a work by Jiun Onkō. Following William Burto’s death in 2013, his half of the collection was given to the The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Harvard Art Museums; Metropolitan Museum of Art; and the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, respectively. Before his death in 2016, Sylvan Barnet donated his half of the collection to the same institutions.
- [4] See notes 2 and 3. See also object file F2014.6.1-19 “Japan, Heian period, Group of Calligraphies, Gift of Sylvan Barnet and William Burto. Acquisition papers,” for Deed of Gift signed by Sylvan Barnet September 24, 2014, and counter-signed by the Director October 7, 2014. In the attached object list, it is noted that Barnet is giving the Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, his “50% share of ownership of: Section of “The Emergence of the Treasure Tower,” with Pagoda Decoration, Chapter 11 of the Lotus Sutra” described as “Late Heian period, 12th century; Japan; Ink on paper with thin mica-stamped decoration,” with the credit line “Gift of Sylvan Barnet and William Burto in honor of Tajima Mitsuru.” The object is part of the museum’s Freer Gallery of Art Collection.
- [5] See notes 3 and 4.
- Research updated May 31, 2024
- Collection
- Freer Gallery of Art Collection
- Exhibition History
- Words of Wisdom: Buddhist Calligraphy from Japan (April 1, 2023 to February 25, 2024)
- The Power of Words in an Age of Crisis (October 14, 2017 to May 6, 2018)
- Faith and Form: Selected Calligraphy and Painting from the Japanese Religious Traditions (March 20 to July 18, 2004)
- The Written Image: Japanese Calligraphy and Painting from the Sylvan Barnet and William Burto Collection (October 1, 2002 to March 02, 2003)
- Previous custodian or owner
- London Gallery, Ltd.
- Sylvan Barnet (1926-2015)
- William Burto (1921-2013)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Sylvan Barnet and William Burto in honor of Tajima Mitsuru
- Data Source
- Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
- Date
- 12th century
- Period
- Heian period
- Accession Number
- F2014.6.6a-g
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Calligraphy
- Medium
- Ink on paper with thin mica-coating and mica-stamped decoration
- Dimensions
- H x W (image): 29.2 × 34.8 cm (11 1/2 × 13 11/16 in)
- Origin
- Japan
- Related Online Resources
- Google Cultural Institute
- See more items in
- Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection
- Topic
- Buddhism
- Late Heian (Fujiwara) period (897 - 1185)
- Japan
- Lotus Sutra
- Japanese Art
- Record ID
- fsg_F2014.6.6a-g
