Kōmyō kōgō gogankyō ([image omitted]), more commonly referred to as Gogatsu tsuitachi-kyō ([image omitted]) or May 1st Sutra, is the largest extant set of eighth-century Japanese sutras. Commissioned by Empress Kōmyō (701-760 CE), the details of its large-scale production are recorded in numerous Shōsōin (Imperial Repository) documents. Not only is it regarded as the finest example of Nara-period sutras in terms of the quality of its calligraphy, it also holds enormous historical value for scholars of Buddhism and classical Japanese linguistics. It has been given the designation 'Important Cultural Property' by the Bunkachō (Agency for Cultural Affairs) and is rarely seen outside of Japan. One handscroll from the sutra set belongs to the collection of the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Discovered inside a Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE) wooden sculpture of Amida Buddha during the Meiji period (1867-1911 CE), the sutra had suffered damage from insect attack, exposure to moisture, and previous restoration. The scroll lacked mounting elements and protective housing. Due to its importance to the collection and its fragile condition, conservation treatment was undertaken between 2006 and 2007 by the author. This article will detail the treatment of the sutra, a rare undertaking in the West, which involved the need to research the materials of eighth-century sutra paper and papermaking technology, the laborious process of preparing traditional uchigami repair paper, the eschewing of wet repair, lining, and tension-drying methods, and the resolution of issues of aesthetics when faced with a dearth of extant Nara-period examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]