Avatamsaka Sutra (The Flower Garland Sutra), Zhou Version, the First Tripitaka Koreana Edition, Volume 29

Basic information

Designation

National Treasure No.257

Category

Books & Records

Era

고려 현종 2년(1011)

Designated year

1990

Location

단양군, 충청북도— 충청북도 단양군 백자길 9 (영춘면, 대한불교천태종 불교천태중앙박물관)

Coordinates

37.043564, 128.485169Kakao address conversion

Also called Avatamsaka Sutra, Mahavajpulya-Buddha-Avatamsaka-Sutra contains the basic philosophy that Buddha and ordinary people are one. Together with Lotus Sutra, it is a basic sutra for the Huayan Sect (Avata-saka Sect) and one of the scriptures that have wielded the greatest influence on the establishment of Buddhist philosophy in Korea. This book is one of the First Tripitaka Koreana editions made to overcome the invasion of the Khitan with the help of Buddha during the reign of King Hyeongjong (r. 1011-1031) of Goryeo. As part of the 80-volume Zhou edition translated by Sik ananda of the Tang Dynasty of China, it (measuring 28.5㎝ by 891㎝) was woodblock-printed on mulberry paper made like a scroll. There are some differences between the First Tripitaka Koreana editions and those made later and kept at Haeinsa Temple. The former display an exquisite shape of letters of woodblock carving, but the number of characters carved on each line is different from that of the ones kept in Haeinsa. It contains no information as to when it was published. It shows the practice of omitting a stroke of a Chinese character identical to one of the characters used for the name of a king or using another character out of respect for the king. In indicating the unit of the number of sheets composing the sutra, the First Tripitaka Koreana editions use Chinese characters like “丈” or “幅.” The ones kept in Haeinsa use “張,” however. This edition has the factors stated in the foregoing, showing that it is one of the First Tripitaka Koreana editions. Vol. 29 is the only one left among the First Tripitaka Koreana Editions of Avatamsaka Sutra found in Korea. It is a precious material showing the original First Tripitaka Koreana edition printed around the 11th Century.

Location