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A note on the reverse of the frame of these two small items of calligraphy assigns them to the Kamakura and Nanbokucho periods respectively. I`d be most grateful if someone could tell me if this is likely to be true. The first measures c10 x 2.5 ins and the second c9.25 x 2.5 ins. Some idea of what the calligraphy says in English would be wonderful too! I`m a novice, and any help would be gratefully received. Thanks in advance. Eric

These are two separate fragmentary interpretations to the same Buddhist sutra written in Sino - Japanese. Both of them are later copies.

Script on LHS slip,
南北朝時代　- Nanboku-chō　period
延元二年写大般若経　-　*2nd Year of Engen　 era copied version Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra
伏屋飛*騨守忠興筆　-　Copied by *Fushiya Hida-no-Kami Tadaoki

* 1337
*This 騨　character is written mistaken as 弾 on the slip.
* Courtesy title (Lower 5th rank) of a certain military governor named Tadaoki

Script on the RHS slip,
嘉禄版大般若経　-　*Karoku　era version Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra
弘安八年　-　*8th Year of Kōan era
橘乙女ノ墨書名アリ　-　Name of *Tachibana Otome written with black ink
(Not on this page)

* This era spanned the years from 1225 to 1227
* 1285
* Tachibana Otome (Maiden Tachibana)
- Was the name of the client who got copied the original version -

According to available explanations on the net the
Karoku version is composed of 200 similar pages.

With regards,
I.Nagy

Dear I.Nagy, Many thanks for your wonderfully detailed reply. I am most grateful! One question - is Fushiya Hida-no-Kami Tadaoki on the LH slip the name of the original or later copyist? Thanks again. Eric.

Dear Eric,
Tadaoki was the original copyist.

With regards,
I.Nagy

Thank you again!

Eric

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