Commentary on the Avatamsaka Sutra (The Flower Garland Sutra), Volumes 21 and 24

The Avatamsaka Sutra, often known in short as the Flower Garland Sutra, holds as its central idea that the Buddha and sentient beings are not two but one. As the fundamental scripture of the Hwaeom school, it exerted, together with the Lotus Sutra, a profound influence on the establishment of Buddhist thought in Korea. This work is a commentary by Jeongwon of the Song dynasty on the eighty-volume standard edition of the Avatamsaka Sutra translated by Siksananda of the Tang dynasty, and consists of Volumes 21 and 30 of the full 120 volumes. The cover is made of brown paper, with the title written in gold in the centre. To date, Volumes 21, 24, 28, 29, 30, 41, 42, 68, 84, 97, 100, 101, 102 and 117 have been designated as Treasures. It was printed on mulberry paper from woodblocks sent from Song China in 1087, the fourth year of King Seonjong of Goryeo; Volumes 21 and 24 can each be unfolded like a folding screen, and measure 32.4 cm in height and 10.6 cm in width. These woodblocks were later sent to Japan in 1424, the year after Japan, in 1423 (the fifth year of King Sejong of Joseon), had requested the Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks kept at Haeinsa Temple. Passing from Song China to Goryeo and then on to Japan, they played a significant role in cultural exchange among the three East Asian countries, and stand as valuable evidence of that exchange.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Seongnam, Gyeonggi

Designation

Treasure · 보물