Lotus Sutra Gwon2ㆍ4ㆍ5ㆍ6

This Lotus Sutra is a Buddhist scripture believed to be a woodblock-printed edition published around 1288, the 14th year of King Chungnyeol of Goryeo. The Lotus Sutra is the foremost Mahayana scripture, teaching that the Three Vehicles — the Śrāvaka, Pratyekabuddha and Bodhisattva paths, each leading to a different form of enlightenment — are ultimately unified into a single Buddha Vehicle; it is commonly known by the short title Beophwagyeong. It is the foundational scripture of Korea's Cheontae school of Buddhism, and its core teaching is that the path to Buddhahood is open to everyone. Together with the Avatamsaka Sutra, it greatly influenced the formation of Buddhist thought in Korea, and it is the most frequently printed scripture among all Buddhist sutras that have circulated in the country. This edition appears to be part of a print carved around 1288, the 14th year of King Chungnyeol, based on Kumārajīva's translation, combining the main text — arranged so that the essential meaning of the Lotus Sutra can be understood systematically — with a smaller-print commentary linked to it. This copy is from the same edition as the Treasure-designated Lotus Sutra, Volume 7 (designated 1987), but appears to have been printed somewhat earlier than the Treasure-designated copy. The printing is clear and appears to be an early impression, and the paper is a plain, rustic mulberry paper. There are some partial losses, but it is otherwise in good condition. This Lotus Sutra sets out its textual analysis in itemised sections linked to the main text and its interpretation, making it a valuable resource that greatly aids understanding of the sutra's content. As a Goryeo-period Buddhist scripture printed from woodblocks in accordion-folded format, it is an indispensable resource for understanding the development of Buddhist thought in Korea and the spread of the Cheontae school, as well as for research into printing technology and bibliography, and it carries great heritage value.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Cheongju, Chungbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산