Transcription of Saddharmapundarika Sutra (The Lotus Sutra) in Ink on White 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 Lotus Sutra translated by Kumarajiva of Later Qin, carefully copied in 1377, the third year of King U of Goryeo, by Ha Deok-ran to pray for the repose of his dead mother and the long life of his father. It is written in ink on white mulberry paper, each volume opening out like a folding screen, 31.8 cm high and 10.9 cm wide when folded. Each cover is decorated with lavish flowers in gold and silver, with the title in gold, and at the head of each volume is a finely drawn gold frontispiece summarising its contents. A note by a Japanese hand at the end shows that it went to Japan in 1443, the twenty-fifth year of King Sejong, and was held at Kodai-in in 1605, the thirty-eighth year of King Seonjo. With its account of why it was written and its frontispieces complete, its good condition, and as heritage recovered from Japan, it is regarded as a precious source.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gwanak-gu, Seoul

Designation

National Treasure · 국보