A book written in blood

The Japanese Emperor Sutoku (1124 A.D. - 1164 A.D.) wrote a book in his own blood. While he was in exile in Sanuki for three years, he spent the entire time copying the Lankavara Sutra (a famous religious essay) using his own blood as ink. This unique work consists of 135 pages, 1215 lines and 10,500 words - and was written in the pious hope that the Lord Buddha would reward him by a restoration to the throne of Japan. Sutoku was reinstated as ruler of Japan in 1144 A.D. and ruled for another twenty years.