Transcription of Saddharmapundarika Sutra (The Lotus Sutra) in Silver on Oak Paper, Volumes 5-6

The Lotus Sutra, sometimes called by its shortened name Beophwagyeong, is the fundamental scripture of the Cheontae (Tiantai) school, founded on the idea that the path to Buddhahood is open to everyone. Together with the Avatamsaka Sutra, it greatly influenced the establishment of Korean Buddhist thought, and it is the most frequently produced of all Buddhist scriptures circulated in Korea. This copy transcribes the Chinese translation by Kumarajiva of the Later Qin dynasty in silver characters on brown paper. Of the seven volumes of the Lotus Sutra, Volumes 5 and 6 were made in a form that unfolds like a screen; when folded, it measures 30.6 cm in height and 11.6 cm in width. The byeonsangdo, an illustration summarising the sutra's content usually placed at the opening, is omitted, and there is no colophon recording its production, but the main text and the front and back covers survive intact. The covers are decorated with gold and silver floral patterns arranged around the title of the sutra. Because there is no colophon, the exact date of production cannot be known, but judging from the calligraphy and the cover decoration, it is presumed to have been made around the 14th century.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물