Yukjodaesabeopbodangyeong

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.2063

Category

Books & Records

Era

1300년(고려 충렬왕 26) 경 판각ㆍ인출 추정

Designated year

2020

Location

사천시, 경상남도— 경상남도 사천시

Coordinates

No precise coordinates are available, so this item is not shown as a map marker. To be added later.

Yukjodaesa beopbodangyeong (Sixth Patriarch of Chinese Zen Buddhism) contains information on the various stages which the Buddhist monk Huineng (638-713) went through from his days at Dafansi Temple in Shaozhou, China to his rise to the status of a patriarch by inheriting the Dharmadhatu, i.e. the realm or sphere (dhatu) of the Dharma or Absolute Reality, from the First Patriarch Bodhidharma. Compiled by his disciple Fahai, it also includes the sermons he delivered to his disciples Yukjodaesa beopbodangyeong (64 chapters in 1 volume; designated as Treasure No. 2063) is a woodblock-printed book published by Seonwonsa Temple in Ganghwa in 1300 (the 26th year of the reign of King Chungryeol of Goryeo) based on the book compiled by the Buddhist monk Deyi of the Yuan Dynasty of China in 1290 and adopted by Hyegam (aka Manhang/1249-1319), the tenth patriarch of Suseonsa Temple of Goryeo. It is known to be the oldest existing copy among the relevant scriptures introduced to the country. It displays the characteristics of books printed in the Goryeo Period, displaying stylistic differences from the editions derived from Deyi’s editions published in the Joseon period. Affixed at the bottom of its foreword are the seal impressions of Park Seonmuk, Deogun, and an unknown contributor. Park Seonmuk was actively engaged various Buddhism-related activities toward the end of the Joseon dynasty, including the translation of the scriptures of Esoteric Buddhism in 1908 (the 2nd year of the reign of Emperor Yunghui of the Korean Emperor) and the construction of Seonamjeongsa Shirine at the site of the former Inwangsa Temple in 1912. The impression left by his seal sheds light on how the scriptures were transmitted and used. Yukjodaesa beopbodangyeong is a handbook on the core philosophy of Zen Buddhism, which made a significant impact on the history of Korean Zen Buddhism, and is known to be the oldest extant woodblock-printed book of its kind in Korea, making it an important material for studies on Buddhism and woodblock printing of the late Goryeo period.