Daebanggwangbulhwaeomgyeongso Gwon118

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.2280

Category

Books & Records

Era

1086∼1087년 판각, 여말선초 후인

Designated year

2025

Location

서초구, 서울특별시— 서울특별시 서초구 반포대로 201(반포동, 국립중앙도서관)

Coordinates

37.497423, 127.003228Kakao address conversion

This English description was machine-translated and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the original Korean text for details.

The Volume 118 of the Extensive Illumination on the Huayan Scripture Subcommentary housed in the National Central Library represents volume 118 of a 120-volume Buddhist scriptural commentary. This monumental subcommentary was authored by the Song dynasty Buddhist monk Jingyuan (1011-1088) in detailed exposition of the Commentary with Interlinear Annotations on the Huayan Scripture originally composed by Tang dynasty monk Chengguan (738-839). The Huayan Scripture serves as the foundational scriptural text of Huayan Buddhism and exerts profound doctrinal influence equivalent to the Lotus Sutra in establishing Korean Buddhist philosophical foundations, advancing the central concept of non-duality between Buddha and sentient beings. Great Illumination Tripitaka Master Ui-cheon (1055-1101) received a complete set of Jingyuan's subcommentary as a gift when returning to Goryeo from Song, subsequently requesting woodblock carving by the Song engraver Yan Ming at Hangzhou. Following this commission, in March 1087 during the reign of King Seongjong, Song merchants including Xu Zhan transported approximately 2,900 woodblocks to Goryeo, establishing the text's transmission. Thereafter, Korean printers primarily utilized these Song woodblock editions, though in response to multiple Japanese requests during the Joseon period, in 1424 during King Sejong's reign, the temple relinquished the woodblocks along with other scriptural woodblock collections to Japan, after which Korean impressions ceased. The National Central Library copy bears a manuscript notation on the final leaf reading 'respectfully examined and impressed in the eleventh lunar month of wanli 30, year imyin (1602), by priestly attendant Yixiong,' providing crucial evidence of the text's transmission history circa 1602. A similarly inscribed notation appears on the reverse of volume 114, already designated as treasure, establishing this documentary evidence as significant for understanding post-impression transmission. The binding employs oak-leaf-dyed paper, with the title inscribed in gold pigment. The preservation condition is excellent, and volume 118 represents the only presently documented copy of this specific volume among Goryeo-transmitted editions in Korea. The Song woodblock-carved Huayan Scripture Subcommentary transmitted to Goryeo constitutes tangible evidence of Ui-cheon's compilation project systematizing Buddhist teachings and documents the subsequent transmission and historical circumstances surrounding these imported scriptural woodblocks, thereby possessing tremendous scholarly value. Furthermore, the evident involvement of sino-Korean-Japanese Buddhist exchange mechanisms evident from the subsequent transfer to Japan provides significant historical documentary value for comprehending East Asian Buddhist cultural interaction.

Location