Japanese old copper/bronze ITA-BUTSU (Buddhist image plate) with many characters (Buddhist mantra or sutra?) 1185-1868 AD; REGION OF ORIGIN: Japan Width: 14 cm = 5.5 inches: Height 18.7 cm = 7.3 inches: Weight 449 g = 15.87 oz. CONDITION: Good considering the age. Used. This is the old original. This is never an imitation. MATERIAL: Copper or bronze; TYPE: ITA-BUTSU (Buddhist image plate) Provenance: private collection in Japan. Buddhism in Japan (日本の仏教, Nihon no Bukkyō) was first established in the 6th century CE.[3][4][5] Most of the Japanese Buddhists belong to new schools of Buddhism which were established in the Kamakura period (1185－1333).[6] During the Edo (Tokugawa)-period (1603–1868), Buddhism was controlled by the feudal Shogunate. The Meiji-period (1868–1912) saw a strong response against Buddhism, with persecution and a forced separation between Buddhism and Shinto (Shinbutsu bunri). ABOUT WORK: This has a good quality of old iron with atmosphere. This is serious old Japanese Buddhist image that specialist made. Another opinion of Japanese collector: I looked it up and it seems to be a scene of Buddha and his enlightened disciples. The writing on the back looks like an explanation about a Buddhist god, not a sutra. Provenance: private collection in Japan.