Shi (Peaceful) Mandala Embroidery Photograph with Japanese Cover

The cover sheet in Japanese describes this as a photo of anational treasure - an embroidery of the Shakyamuni Buddha (enlightened Buddha) presented to the Kyoto Museum in 1926 and exhibited at the Kanshuji Temple in Kyoto. The original embroidery is reportedly very colorful and is believed to have been made in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), specifically during the Tenpyo period (729-749). 
 
The image portrays the Buddha surrounded by bodhisattvas, disciples and other celestial beings in a very complex and multilayered composition.
 
Reference is made in the cover letter to it being called a Shi Mandala which we understand is a term that can refer to any mandala that primarily depicts peaceful deities. It can also refer to the broader concept of mandalas used in Buddhist practice for visualization, meditation, and spiritual development. The term "Shi" itself means "peaceful," so a "Shi" mandala would be one that emphasizes the peaceful aspects of Buddhist teachings and deities. (A Shi-tro mandala, in contrast, would contain 100 peaceful AND wrathful deities that are believed to manifest to a deceased person in the intermediate state after death.)
 
We believe this would have been purchased by our great grand aunts, the Burr sisters, during one of their visits to Japan in the 1920s or 1930s. It is in decent vintage condition, but there is a crease through the board the image is printed in as we have tried to show in pictures.
 
Image H 6 5/8” x L 5 1/4”
Piece H 11 3/8” x L 8 3/4”