Transcription of Saddharmapundarika Sutra (The Lotus Sutra) in Silver on Oak Paper

The Lotus Sutra, Beophwagyeong for short, is the fundamental scripture of the Korean Cheontae school, and its central teaching is that the way to Buddhahood is open to all. With the Avatamsaka Sutra it did most to shape Korean Buddhist thought, and it has been the most widely circulated Buddhist scripture since the Three Kingdoms period. This is the seven-volume translation by Kumarajiva of Later Qin, carefully copied in silver in 1373, the twenty-second year of King Gongmin of Goryeo. Each volume opens out like a folding screen, 31.4 cm high and 11.7 cm wide. The colophon shows that it was made with an offering from Heo Chil-cheong, an official of the Bongsang-daebu rank. Notes in ink in several places on the back — 'kept at Dogapsa, Yeongam' or 'kept at this office' — show that it originally belonged to Dogapsa Temple in Yeongam, South Jeolla. It has no frontispiece illustrating the sutra, but it was made with great care and is well preserved. It is all the more highly valued for having been taken to Japan and recently recovered.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Designation

National Treasure · 국보