Hyakumanto Darani, or One Million Pagodas and Darani Prayers, is known as one of the earliest known examples of printing in the world. Empress Shotoku of Japan gave the imperial order that one million copies of Darani prayers be printed as prayers for peace. The printing was completed around 770 AD. The prayers were contained in wooden pagodas which were dedicated to ten major temples including the Horyuji and the Todaiji temples.
Hyakumanto consists of four prayers of Mukujoko-kyo and a small three-story wooden pagoda. These prayers, entitled Kompon, Jishinin, Sorin and Rokudo from Darani-kyo, were printed on Japanese hand-made paper and were placed inside the pagoda which measures about 21.4 cm. in height. The base of the pagoda was made of Hinoki wood (cypress tree) and the top section was made of Katsura wood (Katsura tree). Some pagodas were made from different types of wood.
This edition of Hyakumanto Darani is the modern edition published by the courtesy of the Seikado Bunko Library. Darani-kyo is printed on Japanese hand-made paper (washi) and the pagoda is made of Katsura wood.