Transcription of Avatamsaka Sutra (The Flower Garland Sutra), Zhenyuan Version, in Silver on Indigo Paper, Volume 34

The Avatamsaka Sutra, often abbreviated to 'Hwaeomgyeong', takes as its central idea that the Buddha and sentient beings are not two but one. As the fundamental scripture of the Hwaeom school, it had, together with the Lotus Sutra, a decisive influence on the formation of Korean Buddhist thought. This transcription, Volume 34 of the Zhenyuan version of the Avatamsaka Sutra in silver ink on indigo paper, corresponds to volume 34 of the forty-volume Zhenyuan version translated by the Tang-dynasty monk Prajna. The text is written in silver characters on paper of a deep bluish-black colour, with sheets joined end to end to form a scroll measuring 30.6 cm in height and 805.7 cm in length. The wooden roller supporting the scroll is painted with a flower design and gilded. The cover, decorated with flower patterns in gold and silver, bears the title written in gold within a double-lined rectangular border, with the character '貞' (jeong), indicating the Zhenyuan version, written below the title. At the very front is a byeonsangdo, a gold-painted illustration summarising the content of the sutra. Of this Zhenyuan version, only volumes 31 and 34 survive. According to a note in volume 31, it was made in 1337, the sixth year of the restored reign of King Chungsuk of Goryeo, by Lady Gu, wife of Choe An-do, who prayed for rebirth in paradise in her next life.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gwanak-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물