Copying and recitation of the diamond sutra was a widespread devotional practice, and stories attributing miraculous powers to these acts are recorded in chinese, japanese, tibetan, and mongolian sources. Printed copy of the diamond sutra the british library. One translation of the works full name is the diamond that cuts through illusion. This copy of the diamond sutra is the worlds earliest complete and dated, printed book. 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. The word sutra comes from sanskrit, the ancient language of india. Price is the translator of the ancient and revered zen buddhist scriptures the diamond sutra and the sutra of huineng. It is a mahayana sutra from the perfection of wisdom genre. The very first printed book the diamond sutra scihi blogscihi blog. The diamond sutra and the sutra of hui neng internet archive. The very first printed book the diamond sutra scihi. This short text covers more of the buddhas teachings than any other scripture, and it does so without being superficial or hurried.
The diamond sutra a chinese block printed book 868 ce the diamond sutra. The diamond sutra by red pine overdrive rakuten overdrive. U cal press, 2005 entitled be all you cant be, and other gainful losses in the diamond sutra. This copy of the diamond sutra is the worlds earliest, dated, printed book ad 868.
Jikji is known to be the first printed book using movable metal print technology by koryo korea. According to national library of peking in 1961, the diamond sutra is described as. Red pines translation of the diamond sutra, is, in my opinion, the best out there. Jikji is abbreviated title of a korean buddhist document, selected teachings of buddhist sages and seon masters. The opening gatha was composed by thich nhat hanh to precede the translation. What the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest printed book, has. Carved wooden blocks were used to print this copy on a scroll made from seven panels of paper. 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. Dated 587 years before the gutenberg bible, the diamond sutra is the oldest surviving printed, dated book. At one time the buddha was staying in the jeta grove, near the city of sravasti.
The story of the worlds earliest dated printed book at. A central text of indian buddhism, the diamond sutra was first translated. Written in the chinese language, the diamond sutra chronicles a gathering of disciples to hear the teachings of buddha and is dated the 15th of the 4th moon of the 9th year of xiantong, which translates to 11 may 868. Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds. 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. Western scholars have traditionally considered the earliest sutra in the prajnaparamita class to be the aasahasrika prajnaparamita sutra or perfection of wisdom in 8,000 lines, which was probably put in writing in the 1st century bce. On may 11, 868, the earliest dated printed book was issued, a chinese copy of the socalled diamond sutra, one of the most important.
The diamond sutra and the sutra of huineng by wong moulam. See this and more treasures of the british library. A central text of indian buddhism, the diamond sutra was first translated from sanskrit into chinese in about ad 400. The diamond sutra the diamond that cuts through illusion a new translation in english by alex johnson read by chris johnys. Restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra. The work, which offers meditations on illusion and perception, was originally written in sanskrit and first translated into chinese in 402 a. The diamond sutra, now recognized as one of the worlds great literary jewels, has recently undergone conservation. Restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra bbc. I will introduce you to this virtuous shodo practice and show you some examples of my own style of sutra writing of the heart sutra. Moulam also translated the diamond sutra and the sutra of hui neng, two of the most treasured works of buddhist literature, the first of which is considered the oldest existing printed book in the world. The diamond sutra rings like the clearest bell so beautiful.
Chonens arrival with over 500chests of the kaibao tripitaka was an event that attracted crowds of onlookers and sent shockwaves through the heian capital. The diamond sutra, as described by the british library, is the worlds earliest complete survival of a dated printed book. Marc aurel stein, a hungarianborn british archaeologist and. This is the buddhist teaching on the perfection of wisdom and cuts through all obstacles on the path of practice. May 11, 2014 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. One of the best known commentaries is the exegesis on the diamond sutra by huineng, the sixth patriarch of the chan school. 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.
In 1971, koreans found a printed book from a stone monument constructed in ad 751. The diamond sutra and the sutra of huineng by huineng. Diamond sutra, first printed book on 11 may 868 ce history. It was produced some 600 years before gutenbergs movable type printing in europe, and is clearly the product of a. Oct 05, 2015 the diamond sutra the diamond that cuts through illusion a new translation in english by alex johnson read by chris johnys. On may 11, 868, the diamond sutra was published in northern china. From this it seems reasonable to infer that thousands of years ago, just like today, a diamond was capable of cutting through an object. So it is more than a little likely that the arrival of printed books from song china inspired the contemporaries to start printing full books. Huineng was an illiterate woodcarver who suddenly became enlightened upon hearing someone reciting the diamond sutra on a streetcorner, thus the two books are often published together. May 11, 2017 johann gensfleisch zur laden zum gutenberg did not invent printing when he began to produce books in mainz around ad 1450.
A daoist monk, wang yuanlu, discovered the socalled dunhaung manuscripts in 1900. This priceless religious teaching survives as the oldest dated, printed book. The manuscript was one of many discovered in the mogao caves of dunhaung, china. It was produced some 600 years before gutenbergs movable type printing in europe, and is clearly the product of. You might think the it was johannes gutenberg who invented modern printing. It has had the most profound and widereaching influence of any text in buddhism. It means a religious teaching and is most often used to describe the teachings of the buddha. Diamond sutra, brief and very popular mahayana buddhist text widely used in east asia and perhaps the best known of the 18 smaller wisdom texts that together with their commentaries are known as the prajnaparamita perfection of wisdom. It is one of the most influential mahayana sutras in east asia. The diamond sutra, the earliest surviving dated complete printed. For a close reading of the texts rhetoric, see chapter 4. The diamond sutra is the earliest dated and printed book.
This rare document is now in the british museum collection of early printed books. Vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra is a mahayana buddhist sutra from the prajnaparamita, or perfection of wisdom genre, and emphasizes the practice of nonabiding and nonattachment. The buddhist text known around the world as the diamond sutra although a more accurate translation of the sanskrit title might be, for instance, the vajra cutter sutra is a short mahayana sutra of the perfection of wisdom genre, which teaches the practice of the avoidance of abiding in extremes of mental attachment. But there is no record of exact printed date in these books.
Master nan huaichins discourses on the treasured buddhist diamond sutra bring together a lifetimes personal cultivation experience that crosses into every single school of esoteric and spiritual practice. The earliest dated printed book, known as the diamond sutra, was produced in china in 868 ce, but it is believed that the practice dates back well before this date. The diamond sutra project gutenberg selfpublishing. Sep 12, 2012 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.
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. Sutra copying, shakyo, writing the sacred words of the buddha. In fact, it is a earliest printed book which has a printed date. Johann gensfleisch zur laden zum gutenberg did not invent printing when he began to produce books in mainz around ad 1450. Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest. The japanese and the chinese regularly used wood blocks carved in relief to produce buddhist charms as early as the fifth century ce. Printed over 1100 years ago, a chinese copy of the diamond sutra at the. It emphasizes the practice of nonattachment and nonabiding.
May 12, 2012 the worlds oldest book the link below is to an article about the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest surviving book, which was printed on the 11 may, 868. 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 library is one of the most. The diamond sutra is part of a larger canon of early mahayana sutras known as the prajnaparamita meaning perfection of wisdom sutras. 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. Aurel stein found a copy of the chinese version among the dunhuang manuscripts in 1907. Prices version is still a classic, and better in terms of flow, pines edition expresses clearly the difficult teachings of emptiness, many of which are missed in more eloquent versions. Diamond sutra explained by nan huai chin, paperback barnes. 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. Do you, however, know which the oldest dated printed book still in existence even today is. Background of the diamond sutra diamond sutra a new.
The diamond sutra may look like a book, but its really the body of the buddha. A copy of this sacred text, which was discovered in the mogao caves of dunhuang, china, has been described as being the worlds earliest complete survival of a dated printed book. Paternal seductions in early mahayana buddhist literature berkeley. The diamond sutra is the worlds earliest dated printed book. Diamond sutra a chinese version of the diamond sutra is the worlds earliest complete survival of a dated block printed book, made in 868 ce. The buddhist text known as the diamond sutra is believed to be the oldest surviving printed book in the world. Jun 28, 2016 a copy of this sacred text, which was discovered in the mogao caves of dunhuang, china, has been described as being the worlds earliest complete survival of a dated printed book. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. But its a body with nothing inside and nothing outside. 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. The practice of sutra copying, japanese shakyo, has been a major brush meditation throughout my life. Aug 02, 2009 finding new meaning in one of the worlds oldest books since at least the fifth century, generations of buddhists have memorized and chanted the diamond sutra, a short mahayana buddhist scripture. Oct 15, 2010 the diamond sutra is the worlds earliest dated printed book.
The story of the worlds earliest dated printed book wood, frances, barnard, mark on. May 11, 2016 on may 11, 868, the diamond sutra was published in northern china. The worlds oldest book the link below is to an article about the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest surviving book, which was printed on the 11 may, 868. The diamond sutra, the oldest printed text in the world, goes to. A central text of the indian buddhism, the diamond sutra was. A central text of the indian buddhism, the diamond sutra was first translated from sanskrit into chinese in about ad 400. Jun 25, 2015 this translation of the diamond that cuts through illusion, sometimes known simply as the diamond sutra, has been prepared by thich nhat hanh from the vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra in sanskrit, and the chinese taisho revised tripitaka, no. Dec 05, 2010 restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra. Prajnaparamita project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. However, the honour of being the earliest printed book goes to a buddhist text, known in english as the diamond sutra, printed in chinese in ad 868 on paper. Diamond sutra, first printed book on 11 may 868 ce diamond sutra sanskrit.
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