Suyong samsu yohaengbeop (Essential Actions for the Use of Water), the First Tripitaka Koreana Edition Folding Screen of Giroyeondo and Sujagyeondo (Gathering of

This scripture, compiled by the Tripitaka Master Uijeong during the Tang dynasty, was carved in the 11th century by the Daejang dogam as part of the Chojo Tripitaka; it sets out for monks and laypeople alike how water should be used. It divides water into three kinds — water for improper times, water for proper times, and water for contact use — and explains the correct way to use each. It further states that breaking these rules constitutes, depending on the case, one of six offences (failure to use water properly, excessive contact, overnight contact, impure contact, handling food vessels with unclean hands, or impurity), extending ultimately to 15,480 categories of transgression. This content is known to be based fundamentally on the vinaya, or monastic code, of the Sarvastivada school. This scripture is a short Buddhist text of five sheets on a single roller, each sheet measuring 46.3 cm. It is bound in the scroll-and-roller style; a roller rod survives at the end of the scroll, but the cover sheet at the beginning is missing, so that the first sheet becomes visible as soon as the scroll is unrolled. At the head of the scroll the title 'Suyong samsu yohaengbeop' appears, with the case mark 'Yeong' recorded beneath it, and the following line names the author as 'compiled by the Tripitaka Master Uijeong, translator of scriptures', confirming that Uijeong of the Tang dynasty was the compiler. The borders consist of single top-and-bottom lines, a feature typical of the scroll-and-roller and accordion-fold formats. The running title is not entirely certain, but appears to give the abbreviated form 'Suyong samsu yobeop', followed by the sheet number and case mark in sequence. In the text, the final stroke of the character 'gyeong' — a taboo character avoided out of respect for the grandfather of Emperor Taizu of the Song dynasty — has been deliberately omitted. Compared with Northern Song editions or the Second Tripitaka Koreana, the script is a sturdier, more regular standard script, its carving technique outstanding. Carved in the 11th century as part of the Chojo Tripitaka, this scripture is well preserved and is a rare and valuable resource for the study of Korean Buddhist cultural history and bibliography.

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Where it is

Region

Seodaemun-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물