Japanese readers, assemble!

[Ahleckz]

I bought this scroll from an antique shop in Tokyo. I asked for a translation at the time but forgot what he said, and I didn’t write it down. I feel it may have had something to do with hills…

Any ideas?

 

[Ahleckz]

“I Saw You Coming, Stupid Gajin.”

I think this is my favourite, and most likely!

 

[Ahleckz]

"The person that bought this is a glory hole attendant"

What do you think it’s covering?

 

[Ahleckz]

2nd character is Person
3rd Character is Center
4th Character is Beautiful

I can't remember the rest.

Ohhh, we’re onto something here! Good intel that it isn’t Japanese. Which does make sense as the guy didn’t seem particularly confident when he was translating…

 

[Ahleckz]

Reddit have suggested this:

是人中芬陀利華(kore ninchū no fundarike nari)

A last half of a phrase "若念佛者、當知此人　是人中芬陀利華" in Amitayurdhyana Sutra(観無量寿経). (Roughly) Those who pray to Amida Buddha are like the white lotus of paradise in the human world.

・・・・・　興弘拝書 - (can't read top half) Kōgu wrote with worship

The calligrapher is Kagai Kogu(利井興弘 1911-1990) who was the 21th head priest of Kagai Jōken-ji temple(利井常見寺).

 

[Ahleckz]

Is it possible to get this accurately attributed over Reddit?

In the past when I have needed attributions I have gone to specialist forums. On two occasions it worked. I'm not saying it's impossible over Reddit, but I would trust a specialist forum more.

On one of those occasions the poster wrote a lengthy account of why he thought this X belonged to Y, backed up by photographs of his own personal collection of historical catalogues. Sufficed to say, he was right when I took his leads.

You will not get an accurate attribution over OCUK, only people Googling things. I would suggest going to an oriental literature or calligrapher forum.

Your other option is an academic. In the past I have written to academics from universities even if I am not part of that uni, and they have, on occasion, helped. Even writing to the Chinese dept of the British Museum could get you somewhere. The BM has also helped me in the past.

Yea, I don't really care that much. I bought it because I liked the colours and like to buy a picture/artwork/etc to hang on my wall from places I go. If any of my friends ask, I can just say "it's a Buddhist prayer, something about those who follow a certain belief are the white lotus' of the World". Sure, the guy could be lying (or wrong), but I don't get why you would...