Buljoyeokdaetongjae

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.737

Category

Books & Records

Era

조선시대

Designated year

1982

Location

담양군, 전라남도— 전남 담양군 담양읍 남촌길 77, 용화사 (남산리)

Coordinates

35.313540, 126.990065

Buljo Yeokdae Tongjae is a series of biographies of the Buddhist monks of great learning and virtue recorded in chronological order from the birth of the Buddha to 1334 (Wontong Second Year; 3rd year of the second reign of King Chungsuk of the Goryeo Dynasty). The biographies were printed with woodblocks on mulberry paper, and consist of 22 volumes bound into seven books. The work measures 28.2 cm by 16.8 cm. The epilogue (related to the publication of the book) written by Kim Su-on states that it was published in 1472 (the 3rd year of the reign of King Seongjong of the Joseon Dynasty). Queen dowager Insu published 29 kinds of Buddhist scriptures concerning the Beophwagyeong (The Lotus Sutra) in order to pray for the heavenly bliss of Kings Sejo and Yejong, the longevity of Queen Jeonghui, King Seongjong and Queen Gonghye. This book is one of them among the 29 kinds of Buddhist scriptures. The record inside the cover of volume 22 describes how the book was transmitted to Monk Mukdam from his late teacher and kept by him. It is currently in the possession of the head monk of Yonghwasa Temple. As it is the only such work whose entire volumes have been preserved, it is considered a valuable material for research on wood-block printing techniques in the early Joseon Dynasty and the Buddhist beliefs of the royal family.

Location