Lotus Sutra vol. 6~7

The Lotus Sutra, also known in short as the Beophwagyeong, is the fundamental scripture of the Cheontae (Tiantai) school and holds as its basic idea that the path to Buddhahood is open to everyone. Together with the Avatamsaka Sutra, it had the greatest influence on the establishment of Buddhist thought in Korea, and it has been the most widely circulated Buddhist scripture since the Three Kingdoms period. This Lotus Sutra is a translation made by Kumārajīva of the Later Qin dynasty of China, with a commentary added by Gyehwan of the Song dynasty. This particular edition is a reprint recut in the sixth month of the 10th year of the Jiajing reign era of Ming China (1531, the 26th year of King Jungjong of Joseon) at Gongsanbonsa Temple in Yeongcheon-gun, Gyeongsang-do, based on an earlier edition of the Lotus Sutra printed in the first year of King Sejo (1455) using the Eulhaeja typeface, a bronze movable type cast from the calligraphy of Gang Hui-an. It is a printing produced at Samseongam Hermitage from the autumn of the 12th year of the Jiajing era (1533, the 28th year of King Jungjong), two years after the recutting at Gongsanbonsa Temple, through to the third month of the 14th year of the Jiajing era (1535, the 30th year of King Jungjong). At the end of volume 7 appear the names of the participating monks, together with lists of donors, engravers, the patron who financed the finishing of the woodblocks, and the fundraising monk. At the very end is written: "Recut at Gongsanbonsa Temple, Yeongcheon-gun, Gyeongsang-do, on a day in the sixth month of the xinmao year, the 10th year of the Jiajing era (1531)", and on the inside of the back cover is an ink inscription reading: "Printed at Samseongam Hermitage, beginning in the autumn of the guisa year, the 12th year of the Jiajing era, up to a day in the third month of the yiwei year (1535)". This edition is a woodblock-printed book published in 1533 (the 26th year of King Jungjong). The colophon records that it was recut at Gongsanbonsa Temple, Yeongcheon-gun, Gyeongsang-do. This edition is presumed to be based on the Lotus Sutra printed in the first year of King Sejo (1455) using the Eulhaeja typeface cast from the calligraphy of Gang Hui-an, and it is a very rare surviving type among the many editions of the Lotus Sutra. As a rare type among many editions, it carries particular significance, and it is essential material for the study of early Joseon social history as well as the history of Buddhism and printing culture.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Danyang, Chungbuk

Designation

Provincial Tangible Heritage · 시도유형문화유산