Japanese Hanging Scroll Hand Painted 'Namu Amida Butsu' KAKEJIKU By Matsumura MB731
This is a Japanese kakejiku hanging scroll of Buddhist calligraphy written by the Buddhist priest Matsumura Yucho (松村祐澄). The inscription reads “Namu Amida Butsu” (南無阿弥陀佛), the well-known six-character Buddhist invocation known in Japan as Rokujimyogo (六字名号).
The calligraphy is executed by hand in black ink on paper. The six large characters are written vertically with powerful, highly expressive brushwork. Each character has a strong variation between thick, heavily loaded strokes and thinner sweeping lines, creating a sense of movement while maintaining the solemnity expected of Buddhist devotional calligraphy. The slightly irregular ink flow and visible brush transitions preserve the direct character of the artist’s hand.
“Namu Amida Butsu” may be understood as “I take refuge in Amida Buddha” or “Homage to Amida Buddha.” It is one of the most recognizable devotional phrases in Japanese Buddhism and has long been written on hanging scrolls for display in Buddhist altars, temples, memorial spaces, and traditional Japanese interiors.
The composition is deliberately simple, placing the large inscription at the center of the scroll without pictorial decoration. This gives full emphasis to the spiritual phrase and to Matsumura’s brushwork. A smaller inscription appears along the left side together with red seals near the lower section, identifying the calligraphic hand.
The scroll is mounted with an ornate dark blue and gold brocade textile featuring scrolling floral motifs, giving the piece a dignified temple-like presentation. Gold-toned borders around the central paper complement the black ink and richly patterned mounting, creating a strong visual contrast.
This type of Buddhist calligraphy combines religious meaning with the aesthetic qualities of Japanese shodō, making it suitable both as a devotional object and as a traditional Japanese calligraphic work.
Artist
Matsumura Yucho (松村祐澄)
Matsumura Yucho was a Japanese Buddhist priest associated with the Omuro school of Shingon Buddhism (真言宗御室派) and served as the 45th head priest of Ninnaji Temple (仁和寺) in Kyoto.
Ninnaji is one of Kyoto’s historically important Buddhist temples and the head temple of the Omuro school of Shingon Buddhism. Matsumura’s position within this tradition gives this calligraphic work particular religious and institutional significance.
Size
Overall Height: Approx. 202 cm / 79.53 in
Overall Width: Approx. 48.3 cm / 19.02 in
Artwork Height: Approx. 132.6 cm / 52.20 in
Artwork Width: Approx. 33.2 cm / 13.07 in
Total Weight
Approx. 822 g / 1.81 lb
Condition
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