Votive offering, in the form of a rectangle of paper. Face: colour print of Yakushi Nyorai seated on a lotus throne with his right hand in the attitude of blessing and two rows of characters. Obverse: large piriform and large square seals in red, with roughly drawn characters in black ink.
The front inscription is written right to left. It reads (top): 'Yakushi Nyoria' (bottom): 'Horyuji-daikodo'. The back inscription is in three vertical rows reading from right to left. The first has not been deciphered. The middle is 'Daigaran' (great temple complex) . The left one is 'horyuji'. The seal has not been deciphered but seems to relate to the place.
'Yakushi Nyoria' refers to Bhaisajyaguru, one of the gods, 'arrival as a healer.' 'Horyuji-daikodo' means 'Great Lecture Hall of Horyu Temple'. 'Daigaran' means Great Buddhist temple'. 'Norjuji' means Horyu Temple.
Horyu temple is in Nara and dates from the beginning of the 8th century.
votive offering
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