[OKAMURA (Kichiemon)]
Gatha
A dazzling stencil-dyed Buddhist gatha
An unusual Okamura title; an entirely typographic expression of a Buddhist gatha, with dazzling use of gold leaf and silver paper. In comparison to sutras, gathas are less sermonic but shorter verses written to be recited or chanted.
Though it is not signed or mentioned, this is most likely the work of Okamura Kichiemon who had a very distinctive style of katazome stencil dye. In the colophon is is noted that it was published in Genkoji temple in Honjo (formerly Umabayashi) in Tokyo. A spiritual man himself, it is likely that Okamura collaborated with the Genkoji to produce a modern edition of a specific gatha. While most of Okamura’s printed books examine local craft traditions across the Japan, the present title is a lovely example of a book on a Buddhist theme.
Extremely rare. No copies in OCLC or CiNii.
