Shurangama Sutra (The Sutra of the Heroic One) (1984)

The Shurangama Sutra is also known by the shorter titles Daebuljeong Suneungeomgyeong or Neungeomgyeong. Its central teaching is that the Buddha's words should not merely be understood intellectually but personally experienced and realised. The sutra comprises ten fascicles in total and was an essential scripture in the training of Buddhist monks. This edition, translated by Bhagavaddharma of Tang China and annotated by Jiehuan of Song China, was published in the first year of King Taejong of Joseon (1401) on the order of King Taejo. It is a woodblock print on mulberry paper in which the ten fascicles are bound into five volumes, measuring 38.5 cm in height and 22.9 cm in width. A colophon by Gwon Geun at the end of the book records that many people, including the senior monk (daedeok, 'Great Virtue') Myeongho, were mobilised to carve the woodblocks, and that a person surnamed Yun oversaw the work as a whole. It is notable that this Buddhist sutra was published on King Taejo's order at a time when the suppression of Buddhism and promotion of Confucianism was pursued as state policy, and the work is regarded as a valuable source because it preserves the complete text of the Shurangama Sutra in an independent edition.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물