The HyperImage environment allows the user not only to manipulate the speed of viewing and zooming in on details of the entire hand scrolls, but also provides transcriptions of the calligraphies and offers English translations. Additionally, the user may opt to use extensive annotations on the materiality, depicted motifs, calligraphic styles and political, religious or ritual background information. Furthermore, the seven scrolls can be flexibly compared with each other.

The great variety, but also the similarities of style, contents, and interpretation of this highly influential narrative over the centuries will be presented at the users’ fingertips. In sum, the HDH offers the opportunity to experience Japanese handscrolls in ways, which reflect virtually how viewers at the time may have looked at one set of handscrolls, while at the same time offering possibilities of comparisons and supplemented knowledge, that were not possible until recently.

Version I of the project was funded by the Excellence Initiative at Heidelberg University, Field of Focus 3 “Cultural Dynamics in a Globalized World,” subcategory "Core Facilities", sponsored by the German Research Foundation between March 2014 and February 2015. The project was extended and completed in October 2015 with funds of the project head.

The overwhelming success of the project (see response) and valuable feedback from visitors of the site resulted in an expansion of the HDH project, funded by the project head. Version II consisted of a seminar (see below), and the addition of Japanese translations, and will be inaugurated on March 1, 2017.