Printed copy of the diamond sutra the british library. Carved wooden blocks were used to print this copy on a scroll made from seven panels of paper. Translated into a variety of languages over a broad geographic range, the diamond sutra is one of the most influential mahayana sutras in east asia, and it is particularly prominent within the chan or zen tradition, along with the. Early texts have the buddhas family name as gautama pali. Vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra is a mahayana sutra from the prajnaparamita sutras or perfection of wisdom genre. May 11, 2016 smart news keeping you current five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest dated printed book printed over 1,100 years ago, a chinese copy of the diamond sutra at the british. A copy of the chinese version of diamond sutra, found among the dunhuang.
The diamond sutra, now recognized as one of the worlds great literary jewels, has recently undergone conservation. This consists of a scroll, over 16 feet long, made up of. The oldest printed text in the world is believed to be the diamond sutra, a book of mahayana buddhism that was found in a cave 1146 years ago. At the beginning of the 20th century, an abbot named wang yuanlu came to dunhuang area, discovered the sand covered stone grottoes, took up residence in one cave and began to clear out the others. It was produced on the 11 may 868, according to the western calendar. This new book, the first to focus on the diamond sutra, describes the discovery of the sutra by sir aurel stein in may 1907 in a. Restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra bbc. The oldest known printed book in the world the vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra has been translated from sanskrit into english variously as the diamond sutra, the diamond cutter sutra, the vajra sutra and the vajra cutter sutra. Restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra. The lord was dwelling in the jetavana of anathapindikas park in sravasti.
Transforming the way we perceive the world by mu soenq gick here for the reluctant messenger host site the diamond sutra the walled city of dunhuang shachou was an outpost on the northwestern frontier, whose. Shri yogendra authored his first book named prabhubhakti meaning devotion to the lord, published by diamond jubilee printing press in ahmadabad. In addition to the actual text of the diamond sutra this web site provides a diamond sutra background page which explains the origins of the diamond sutra and information about how this new translation was done. This copy of the diamond sutra is the world s earliest, dated, printed book ad 868. It was produced some 600 years before gutenberg s movable type printing in europe, and is clearly the product of a mature printing industry in china. The worlds oldest copyleft book friday, may 11, 2012 at 2. Translated into a variety of languages over a broad geographic range, the diamond sutra is one of the most influential mahayana sutras in east asia, and it is particularly prominent within the chan or zen tradition, along with the h. The story of the world s earliest dated printed book at. The manuscript was one of many discovered in the mogao caves of dunhaung, china. Aug 02, 2009 the diamond sutra is one of the most historically important texts in the buddhist faith, in part because a copy of it is the oldest surviving dated printed book in the world 868 a.
The image depicts the frontispiece to the worlds earliest dated printed book, the chinese translation of the buddhist text the diamond sutra. Why are the heart sutra and the diamond sutra so popular with buddhists. Price translated into english around 50 pages of the diamond sutra republished by shambhala publishers, 1990. The details of buddhas life are mentioned in many early buddhist texts but are inconsistent, and his social background and life details are. Susan whitfield, the director of the international dunhuang project, took the audience on a journey of exploration of the many facets of the diamond sutra a sacred mahayana buddhist text, which dates from 868 and is the worlds oldest dated complete printed book. Reading them i realized that i was a buddhist, and always had been one. It is also of interest to note that the oldest printed document in the world is a copy of the diamond sutra dated 868 ad. The diamond sutra is the worlds earliest dated printed book.
The wests oldest comparable printed text, the gutenberg bible, was printed in 1456. The oldest dated example of wood block printingproduced some six hundred years before gutenbergs movable type printing in europeit is clearly the product of a mature printing industry in china. A daoist monk, wang yuanlu, discovered the socalled dunhaung manuscripts in 1900. Practitioners chant major sutras such as the heart sutra, chapter 25 of the lotus sutra often called the avalokiteshvara sutra, the song of the jewel mirror awareness, the great compassionate heart dharani daihishin dharani, and other minor mantras.
Sure, printing with metal movable types including a printing press and a suitable ink. What the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest printed book, has. Dec 05, 2010 frances wood talks about the the diamond sutra the world s oldest book which she is responsible for at the british library. It was produced some 600 years before gutenbergs movable type printing in europe, and is clearly the product of a mature printing industry in china. King prasenajit of kosala and his queen mallika had believed in the buddhas doctrine for only a short time. Preaching the law in various different ways, i made use of the power of expedient means. Manibhai haribhai desai 1897 1989, known as shri yogendra was an indian yoga guru, author, poet, researcher and was one of the important figures in the modern revival of hatha yoga, both in india and united states. Also known by its sanskrit title vajracchedika, the diamond sutra posits that something is what it is only because of what it is not. This sutra a sanskrit word that means a religious teaching or sermon, in particular that of the buddha is commonly regarded as one of the most revered texts of mahayana. Belonging to the prajnaparamita, or perfect wisdom tradition, this sutra dates back to the year 868, centuries before the west had even started using paper, and it gathers buddhas teachings on the nature of perception and the illusion of the material world. Zen is a school of mahayana buddhism, translated from the chinese word chan to japanese.
In malayalam the local language of kerala, kathakali means storyplay, kathastory and kaliplay. Vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra is a mahayana buddhist sutra from the prajnaparamita, or perfection of wisdom genre, and emphasizes the practice of nonabiding and nonattachment. Kathakali is a combination of dance, drama, music and religious theme and is considered one of the worlds oldest forms of theatre. May 12, 2016 diamond sutra, first printed book on 11 may 868 ce may 12, 2016 diamond sutra sanskrit. His second book was hrudayapushpanjali meaning prayer from the heart, a collection of his poetry composed in 1917. This copy of the diamond sutra is the worlds earliest, dated, printed book ad 868. This copy of the diamond sutra in chinese language, complete with a beautifully illustrated frontispiece, is the worlds earliest dated, printed book. The world s oldest copyleft book friday, may 11, 2012 at 2.
This relic of buddhism isnt the outright oldest book woodblock printing was invented some 200300 years prior but its the oldest surviving book with the date it was published printed on it. This paper scroll was one of 6,000 items that came from dunhuangs cave 17 during marc aurel steins 2nd expedition of 1911 to western china. Background of the diamond sutra diamond sutra a new. Diamond sutra a new translation of the classic buddhist text. The diamond in the window, the swing in the summerhouse, the astonishing stereoscope, the newbery honor book the fledgling, the fragile flag, the time bike, and the mysterious circus. The oldest printed text in the world the diamond sutra. You might think the it was johannes gutenberg who invented modern printing. Opening the way for the enlightenment of all people t. On may 11, 868, the earliest dated printed book was issued, a chinese copy of the socalled diamond sutra, one of the most important textbooks of buddhism, originally written in the 1st c. Langton is the author of a dozen books for young people, including seven other fantasies about the hall family of concord, massachusetts. The lions roar of queen srimala sutra translated by alex and hideko wayman. The diamond sutra, as described by the british library, is the worlds earliest complete survival of a dated printed book. Jun 28, 2016 the vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra has been translated from sanskrit into english variously as the diamond sutra, the diamond cutter sutra, the vajra sutra and the vajra cutter sutra.
May 11, 2016 on may 11, 868, the diamond sutra was published in northern china. Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the world s oldest dated printed book printed over 1,100 years ago, a chinese copy of the diamond sutra at the british library is one of the most. Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds. Full text of the diamond sutra chinkangching, or, prajna. The diamond sutra goodreads meet your next favorite book. The diamond sutra was hidden for centuries in a cave in northwest china, and it was created from seven strips of yellowstained paper that were printed from carved wooden blocks and pasted together to form a scroll over five meters long.
Smart news keeping you current five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest dated printed book printed over 1,100 years ago, a chinese copy of the diamond sutra at the british. On may 11, 868, the diamond sutra was published in northern china. This consists of a scroll, over 16 feet long, made up of a long series of printed pages. As such, it deemphasizes theoretical knowledge in favor of direct. A central text of indian buddhism, the diamond sutra was first translated from sanskrit into chinese in about ad 400. It was found in a holy site called the mogao or peerless caves or the caves of a thousand buddhas, which was a. It is a key object of devotion and study in zen buddhism.
The buddhist text known as the diamond sutra is believed to be the oldest surviving printed book in the world. The extraordinary discovery of the worlds oldest book posted. This sutra a sanskrit word that means a religious teaching or sermon, in particular that of the buddha is commonly regarded as one of the most revered. Writer and historian, frances wood, is head of the chinese section at the british library, where restoration work has been taking place on an edition of the worlds oldest printed book the diamond sutra which dates back to 868 ad. Oct 10, 2012 why are the heart sutra and the diamond sutra so popular with buddhists. The diamond sutra is one of the most revered texts of mahayana buddhism and a jewel of the world s religious literature. The diamond sutra was displayed in the british library at one stage near a gutenberg bible with the latter labeled as the worlds earliest printed book. Kathakali is a form of classical dance that originated more than 500 years ago in the state of kerala.
According to national library of peking in 1961, the diamond sutra is described as. But in these more than forty years, i have not yet revealed the truth the lotus sutra and its opening and closing sutras, p. The diamond sutra is the world s earliest dated printed book. Though i continued to have contact with christianity, at least from time to time, henceforth i was in contact with it as a buddhist. For dharma practitioners, the fact that the diamond sutra is the worlds oldest book should matter mostly to historians. It is an important buddhist text that has a long and profound history. Buddhism is an indian religion founded on the teachings of a mendicant and spiritual teacher called the buddha the awakened one, c. It is a scroll, a continuous length over 5 m long of woodblock printed text made of seven panels of goodquality paper pasted together. Full text of the diamond sutra chin kang ching, or, prajnaparamita see other formats. May 11, 2014 the frontispiece of the diamond sutra from tang dynasty china, the worlds earliest dated printed book, ad 868 british museum on may 11, 868, the earliest dated printed book was issued, a chinese copy of the socalled diamond sutra, one of the most important textbooks of buddhism, originally written in the 1st c. A conservation approach that goes back to the original the diamond sutra of ad 868 is the worlds earliest dated printed book.
Sutra, considered an introduction to the lotus sutra, shakyamuni says. Though i continued to have contact with christianity, at least from time to time, henceforth i was in contact with it. Few venture that the answer is a revered buddhist text called the diamond sutra, printed in 868 a. Atrendtowardshortversions,whichincludestheheartand diamondsutras,occursinthefourthcenturyce. Zen emphasizes experiential prajna, particularly as realized in the form of meditation, in the attainment of enlightenment. With sarasvati fair and lakshmi, worlds mother, gauri, roseate, primeval power, withdrawer of the world, binds with noose creatures who grasp, and tread attachments path. Diamond sutra, first printed book on 11 may 868 ce history. Sep 12, 2012 for dharma practitioners, the fact that the diamond sutra is the worlds oldest book should matter mostly to historians. This priceless religious teaching survives as the oldest dated, printed book. What the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest printed book. The story of the worlds earliest dated printed book at. A typical english translation contains about 6,000 words, and an average reader could finish it in less than 30 minutes, easily.
The vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra has been translated from sanskrit into english variously as the diamond sutra, the diamond cutter sutra, the vajra sutra and the vajra cutter sutra. As such, it deemphasizes theoretical knowledge in favor of. The first surviving example of a printed text is a buddhist charm, the first full printed book is the buddhist diamond sutra c. Buddhists were also influential in the study and practice of traditional forms of indian medicine. The diamond sutra is the sutra on nonattachment or the perfection of wisdom. The very first printed book the diamond sutra scihi. A practice in many zen monasteries and centers is a daily liturgy service. World s oldest printed books are the chinese translations of ancient sanskrit teachings of buddha and buddhism.
M12 mantra a mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of creating transformation cf. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Marc aurel stein, a hungarianborn british archaeologist and. The west s oldest comparable printed text, the gutenberg bible, was printed in 1456. Transforming the way we perceive the world by mu soenq gick here for the reluctant messenger host site the diamond sutra the walled city of dunhuang shachou was an. I studied this book on and off for 6 months and i will continue to come back to it as being definitive on the subject. Among the manuscripts was perhaps the oldest printed book actually a scroll in existence, the diamond sutra, dated 868. Frances wood talks about the the diamond sutra the worlds oldest book which she is responsible for at the british library. Made in 868 ad and written in chinese, the text contains a significant dialogue on perception, and is one of the most important sacred works of the buddhist faith. This word is in turn derived from the sanskrit dhyana, which means meditation see etymology below. In regards to the latter, the diamond sutra presents its most important lesson, which is the significance of spreading and teaching the diamond sutra. That, of course, is putting it simply, as only buddhists can do. The image depicts the frontispiece to the world s earliest dated printed book, the chinese translation of the buddhist text the diamond sutra. Carved wooden blocks were used to print this copy on.
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