Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra

Dai Hannya Kyō: A Complete Set of 600 Scrolls from the Early Heian Period

Tucked away in the serene mountains of Obama City in Fukui Prefecture, the Dai Hannya Kyō (Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra) held at Wakasa-hiko Shrine is one of Japan's most remarkable surviving examples of early Heian-period sutra copying. Designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, this extraordinary collection of 600 hand-copied scrolls represents a rare and precious window into the devotional and artistic practices of early Japanese Buddhism. What makes this set truly exceptional is that all 600 volumes survive intact — a near-miraculous feat of preservation spanning over a millennium.

Historical Background

The Dai Hannya Kyō, formally known as the Dai Hannya Haramitta Kyō (Mahāprajñāpāramitā Sūtra), is one of the most voluminous texts in the Buddhist canon. Comprising 600 scrolls, it sets forth the core Mahāyāna Buddhist philosophy of prajñā (transcendent wisdom) and śūnyatā (emptiness). In Japan, copying the entire Dai Hannya Kyō was considered an act of immense religious merit, often undertaken to pray for the safety of the state, the prosperity of the people, or the repose of the deceased.

This particular set has been preserved at Wakasa-hiko Shrine, the ichinomiya (first-ranking shrine) of old Wakasa Province, since ancient times. Wakasa-hiko Shrine was founded in 714 CE (Wadō 7) and has long been one of the most important Shinto institutions in the Wakasa region. The preservation of Buddhist scriptures at a Shinto shrine reflects the historical practice of shinbutsu shūgō — the syncretic blending of Shinto and Buddhist traditions that characterized Japanese religion for many centuries before the Meiji-era separation edicts.

Why It Was Designated an Important Cultural Property

The Dai Hannya Kyō of Wakasa-hiko Shrine was designated a national Important Cultural Property on June 20, 1969, for several compelling reasons. First, the entire 600-scroll set survives complete — an extraordinarily rare occurrence for a Heian-period sutra copying project of this scale. Most comparable sets from this era have suffered losses over the centuries due to fire, war, natural disaster, or neglect.

Second, the quality of the calligraphy is superb. All scrolls are written on brown hemp paper (katsu-mashi) in a careful, precise hand. Scholars have determined from the calligraphic style that the work was carried out by several highly skilled copyists during the early Heian period, indicating that this was a carefully organized and well-funded copying project, likely with connections to the capital's scriptoria.

Third, although the covers and roller ends are later replacements, the scrolls themselves are in remarkably good condition, offering an invaluable resource for studying early Heian calligraphy, paper-making techniques, and Buddhist textual transmission in Japan.

Highlights and Points of Interest

The sheer scale of this collection is its most striking feature. Six hundred scrolls of meticulously hand-copied scripture, each written with the discipline and reverence expected of trained sutra copyists, collectively form a monument to devotion and craftsmanship. The brown hemp paper on which the sutras are inscribed has aged gracefully, lending the scrolls a warm, earthy tone that speaks to their antiquity.

The calligraphic style itself is a point of scholarly interest. The characters are written in a formal, restrained manner characteristic of the early Heian period, when Japanese calligraphy was still closely modeled on Chinese prototypes. The involvement of multiple skilled copyists suggests a collaborative endeavor organized by a patron of considerable means — perhaps connected to the provincial government or the shrine's own religious establishment.

For visitors interested in the intersection of Shinto and Buddhism in Japanese history, the very fact that these Buddhist scriptures have been preserved at a Shinto shrine for over a thousand years is itself profoundly significant. It speaks to a world in which the boundaries between these two religious traditions were porous and complementary rather than rigid.

Wakasa-hiko Shrine and Surroundings

Wakasa-hiko Shrine (upper shrine) is located in the Ryūzen area of Obama City, nestled at the foot of Mt. Tada. The shrine's precincts are enveloped in ancient cedar trees, creating an atmosphere of profound tranquility. As the ichinomiya of Wakasa Province, the shrine has a history stretching back over 1,300 years, and its main hall, divine gate, and outer gate are designated Fukui Prefectural Cultural Properties.

Nearby, the lower shrine — Wakasa-hime Shrine — is dedicated to Toyotama-hime and is known for its connections to safe childbirth and child-rearing. The area is also famous for the O-mizu Okuri (Water Sending) ceremony, an ancient ritual linked to the Omizutori ceremony at Tōdai-ji's Nigatsu-dō in Nara. According to tradition, sacred water is sent from the Unose spring in Obama to the well at Nigatsu-dō through an underground channel.

Obama City itself is a treasure trove of cultural heritage. Known historically as Miketsukuni (the land that supplied food to the imperial court), the area boasts numerous temples, shrines, and historic sites. The Saba Kaidō (Mackerel Road), the ancient route connecting Wakasa to Kyoto, is now recognized as part of a Japan Heritage story.

Visitor Information

Wakasa-hiko Shrine is open to visitors year-round. The shrine grounds can be freely explored, though the Dai Hannya Kyō scrolls themselves, as precious cultural properties, are not ordinarily on public display. Visitors interested in viewing the scrolls should inquire with the shrine office or the Obama City Board of Education regarding any special exhibition opportunities.

The shrine is accessible from JR Obama Line's Higashi-Obama Station, approximately a 30-minute walk or a short taxi ride. The lower shrine (Wakasa-hime Shrine) is about a 10-minute walk from the same station and has a staffed shrine office where visitors can obtain information and purchase charms.