Daeseunggisinronso

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.1713

Category

Books & Records

Era

1457년(세조3)

Designated year

2011

Location

, 세종특별자치시— 세종특별자치시

Coordinates

36.480065, 127.289195Kakao address conversion

Commentary on the Mahayana sraddhotpada Sastra (Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana) is a critical and annotated edition of Mahayana sraddhotpada Sastra, a work of the Indian monk Acvaghosha according to Fazang, its author who was a Tang-dynasty monk. This three-volume version published in Joseon, in 1457 was printed with a movable metal type (1st cast gabin type). Although attributed to Maming, Mahayana sraddhotpada Sastra is an apocryphal text, written in China, according to some. Although relatively short, Mahayana sraddhotpada Sastra is considered an essential text in Buddhist research, as it summarizes central ideas of Mahayana Buddhism. This is also why this commentary by Fazang was widely known along with those by Wonhyo and Hyewon, under the designation of Gisinnon samso (Three Commentaries on the Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana). Fazang’s commentary is said to have been written under the influence of Gisinnonso (Commentary on the Awakening)’ by Wonhyo. The commentary by Fazang, however, is slightly different in content and organization from his Uigi (Annotated Commentary on the Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana).As the sole surviving copy in Korea, this copy provides authorship information under the title of the volume. The commentator and annotator are identified respectively as Fazang and Zhongmi. Some parts of the first of the three volumes making up this book are unfortunately missing. There is a postscript, at the tail of the book, written by King Sejo, in 1457 containing memories and prayers for his dead son. While this book was re-published in Japan, several times over the centuries, and was widely circulated, in Korea, this is the only extant copy of the first edition of the same text. Despite the fact that some parts of the first volume are missing, this sole surviving copy of the first edition of this book is invaluable for Buddhist research as well as for research into movable type printed books of early Joseon.

Location