Section of "The Bodhisattva Wonderful Sound," Chapter 24 of the Lotus Sutra

Object Details

• Provenance

  By 2002-2013

  Sylvan Barnet (1926-2016) and William Burto (1921-2013) (owned jointly), possibly acquired from Takashi Yanagi Oriental Fine Arts, Kyoto, Japan [1]

  2013-2014

  Sylvan Barnet and National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, bequeathed by William Burto to the Smithsonian [2]

  From 2014

  National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, gift of Sylvan Barnet and William Burto [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See Miyeko Murase, et al., “The Written Image: Japanese Calligraphy and Painting from the Sylvan Barnet and William Burto Collection” [exhibition catalog] (New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, October 1, 2002- March 2, 2003), pp. 52-53, cat. 7. In the catalog entry for this object, contributor Masako Watanabe noted that, “The present example is a recent addition to the Barnet and Burto collection; previously the collection included a two-line fragment from this set.” See also object file for copy of letter from Freer Gallery of Art Director to Yanagi Takashi, dated October 6, 2014, relating that Sylvan Barnet “has instructed me to tell you that they are giving a sutra fragment of the “The Bodhisattva Wonderful Sound,” with Pagoda Decoration, Chapter 24 of the Lotus Sutra, in honor of you and your sons [Kōichi and Kōji].” Additionally, see object file F2014.6.1-19 “Japan, Heian period, Group of Calligraphies, Gift of Sylvan Barnet and William Burto. Documents: 2004-2013” for Gift Agreement between the Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and Sylvan Barnet and William Burto. Signed by the Director on August 9, 2004, and counter-signed by Barnet and Burto August 13, 2004. The object is described as “Lotus Sutra, chapter 24 (The bodhisattva Wonderful Sound); ELS 2004.1.14.” Additionally, see object file for a copy of the “Will of William Burto,” signed and dated February 14, 2011, Article I, “Executor. I appoint Sylvan Barnet, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to be Executor of this will,” and Article II, “I give my art collection as follows: (1) To the Smithsonian Institution, Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., all of my right, title and interest, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all copyright and associated rights, in the following works of art,” including “Lotus Sutra, chapter 24 (the bodhisattva Wonderful Sound),” described as “Segment of a handscroll mounted as a hanging scroll; silver and gold on indigo-dyed paper.” See also The William Burto Revocable Trust, signed and dated June 9, 2011.

  Sylvan Barnet (1926-2015) and William Burto (1921-2013) were scholars of English literature and collectors of Asian art, focusing on Korean and Japanese works. The two amassed one of the finest private collections of Zen calligraphy, which featured works from the Nara through the Edo periods. As a professor of English literature at Tufts University in the early 1960s, Barnet proposed unique editions of Shakespeare plays, complete with introductions and study aids, to New American Library. The publishing house would produce “The Signet Classic Shakespeare” from 1963 to 1972. Barnet served as general editor as well as providing introductions for several plays, and these popular editions were widely adopted by universities throughout the United States.

  Barnet and Burto purchased their first object, a Korean celadon bowl, in New York in 1963. Just a few years later, they purchased their first calligraphy from Nathan V. Hammer, a work by Jiun Onkō. Following William Burto’s death in 2013, his half of the collection was given to the The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Harvard Art Museums; Metropolitan Museum of Art; and the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, respectively. Before his death in 2016, Sylvan Barnet donated his half of the collection to the same institutions.

  Yanagi Takashi (1938-2021), of Takashi Yanagi Oriental Fine Arts in Kyoto, Japan was an important dealer of Asian art. His gallery was also known as T. Yanagi Antique Art, and his son Kōichi (1965-2022), opened his eponymous gallery, Kōichi Yanagi Oriental Fine Art, in New York City in 1991. Takashi had two brothers who also carried on the family business of dealing in art, with his brother Shigehiko operating a shop opposite his own in Kyoto. This location was also near the Kyoto home of Yabumoto Sōshirō. Takashi and Shigehiko had a younger brother, Hiroshe, who collaborated several times in the 1990s with Takashi’s son Kōichi, at the International Asian Art Fair at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City.

  [2] See note 1, and object file F2014.6.1-19 “Japan, Heian period, Group of Calligraphies, Gift of Sylvan Barnet and William Burto. Acquisition papers,” for Deed of Gift signed by Sylvan Barnet September 24, 2014, and counter-signed by the Director October 7, 2014. In the attached object list, it is noted that Barnet is giving the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, his “50% share of ownership of: Section of “The Bodhisattva Wonderful Sound,” with Pagoda Decoration, Chapter 24 of the Lotus Sutra,” described as “Late Heian period, dated 1163; Japan; Gold on indigo-dyed paper, with silver-ruled lines and gold painted decoration,” with the credit line “Gift of Sylvan Barnet and William Burto in honor of Yanagi Takashi and his sons, Kōichi and Kōji.” The object is part of the museum’s Freer Gallery of Art Collection.

  [3] See notes 1 and 2.

  Research updated May 22, 2024

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Words of Wisdom: Buddhist Calligraphy from Japan (April 1, 2023 to February 25, 2024)

  The Power of Words in an Age of Crisis (October 14, 2017 to May 6, 2018)

  Faith and Form: Selected Calligraphy and Painting from the Japanese Religious Traditions (March 20 to July 18, 2004)

  The Written Image: Japanese Calligraphy and Painting from the Sylvan Barnet and William Burto Collection (October 1, 2002 to March 02, 2003)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Sylvan Barnet (1926-2015)

  William Burto (1921-2013)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Sylvan Barnet and William Burto in honor of Yanagi Takashi and his sons, Koichi and Koji

• Type

  Calligraphy

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1100s

• Name

  Barnet, Sylvan, Burto, William

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Art, Late Heian (Fujiwara) period (897 - 1185), Japanese Art, Lotus Sutra

• Culture

  Buddhists, Japanese

• Object Type

  Calligraphy (visual works)