Antique Japanese Buddhist Sutra Scroll Edo, Taishaku Ten Mandala, Calligraphy for Kōshin Night Ritual, Original Temple Hanging Scroll in Box

This is an authentic antique Japanese hanging scroll (掛軸, kakemono) from the late Edo period (18th–19th century). The scroll features beautiful hand-brushed Buddhist calligraphy dedicated to 帝釈 (Taishaku-ten / Śakra), the Buddhist deity known as the protector of the heavens.

The main text is a rare shakyō (写経) — a votive sutra transcription traditionally made as a devotional act. This specific scroll is an obon mandala written for the sacred Kōshin night (庚申), an auspicious ritual time for warding off evil and praying for health and longevity.
It consists of hundreds of meticulously repeated kanji characters for “health” (康) and “center” (中), symbolizing protection and spiritual balance. The top line specifies:
“Dedicated to Taishaku, for health, on the 4th Kōshin cycle at dawn.”
The scroll comes in its original wooden box, with temple-style handwritten inscriptions. The silk mounting and handmade paper show authentic aging, foxing and water marks, which are desirable signs of historical authenticity.

Details:
Dimensions: 68 × 175 cm (26.7 × 68.9 inches)
Period: Late Edo (approx. 1800–1860)
Material: Handmade washi, silk brocade border, wooden roller ends
Original wooden storage box included
Condition: Antique condition with visible age-related stains, minor paper tears, and patina — please see photos for details.

This piece would make a unique addition for collectors of Japanese Buddhist art, antique calligraphy, or temple artifacts.

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If you're captivated by vintage works from the late 20th and early 21st centuries, including scrolls, shikishi, paintings, calligraphy, oshi-e, posters and vintage prints of renowned Japanese artists, explore our other gallery, JapaneseArtY, at https://japanesearty.etsy.com.

Please note that antique and vintage artworks may have traces of time, stains and creases due to age, so please review all photos.
We upload photos where you can check the condition of the item. But sometimes the photos may not show everything. Also, the colors in the photos may not match the original. Please feel free to ask for additional photos.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Before shipping, all scrolls are placed in special tubes or boxes, which ensures their safety during transportation.
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