The extraordinary discovery of the buddhist diamond sutra. Conrad walters, coauthor of journeys on the silk road, explains the symbolism behind the opening image of the world s oldest printed book the diamond sutra of 868ad. The diamond sutra, the earliest surviving dated complete printed book. Conserving the diamond sutra, idpukvideo published on 31 jan 20. The vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra has been translated from sanskrit into english variously as the diamond sutra, the diamond cutter sutra, the vajra sutra and the vajra cutter sutra.
Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest dated printed book. Thus the oldest book in the world must surely be the gutenberg bible oldest printed book in the west, from c. The first is notable for being the oldest book in the world with a front cover still attached to it. Written in chinese and featuring an illustrated frontispiece, the woodblock printed scroll is fivemetres long and dated 868ad. It depicts the buddha, surrounded by monks and devotees.
The world s oldest copyleft book friday, may 11, 2012 at 2. Jun 25, 2019 the diamond sutra is one of the most revered texts of mahayana buddhism and a jewel of the worlds religious literature. Moreover, it is a key object of devotion and study in zen buddhism. Restoring the world s oldest book, the diamond sutra.
Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds. Printing by rubber paper and printing against inked surface woodblocks developed in. This copy of the diamond sutra in chinese language, complete with a beautifully illustrated frontispiece, is the world s earliest dated, printed book. The frontispiece depicts the buddha, surrounded by monks, devotees and deities. Background of the diamond sutra diamond sutra a new. The diamond sutra now resides at the british library, along with an acknowledgement that it is the oldest dated printed book in existence. The story of the world s earliest dated printed book. However, the honour of being the earliest printed book goes to a buddhist text, known in english as the diamond sutra, printed in chinese in ad 868 on paper using woodblocks, a copy of which was brought from a cave in western china to the british museum in 1909 by the hungarianborn, britishfunded explorer and archaeologist of central asia, sir aurel stein. Nov 05, 2012 conrad walters, coauthor of journeys on the silk road, explains the symbolism behind the opening image of the world s oldest printed book the diamond sutra of 868ad.
State an important characteristic of the oldest japanese. The diamond sutra is the worlds earliest dated printed book. Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the world s oldest dated printed book printed over 1,100 years ago, a chinese copy of the diamond sutra at the british library is one of the most. This book is considered to be the oldest surviving dated printed book in the world. Mark barnard describes the book produced in ad 868 and found in 1907. The diamond sutra is the oldest known dated printed book ce 868, it was made by using block printing. Romanized sanskrit and devanagari of the diamond sutra in the digital sanskrit buddhist canon. The diamond sutra is the world s oldest printed book. When it comes to ancient texts, most are familiar with the big names. State an important characteristic of the oldest japanese book, diamond sutra. Til the worlds oldest printed book is the diamond sutra.
Jun 19, 2016 five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest dated printed book no one is sure who wang jie was or why he had the diamond sutra printed. Or that by the time gutenberg got ink on his fingers nearly 600 years later and his revolutionary technology helped usher in the enlightenment this copy of the diamond sutra. It was found in a holy site called the mogao or peerless caves or the. A desert explorer, buddha s secret library, and the unearthing of the world s oldest printed book morgan, joyce, walters, conrad on. Due to the fairly medieval style of its illustrations, it was long thought to have been made. Newsela the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest dated. The first chinese translation dates to the early 5th century, but, by this point, the 4th or 5th century monks asanga and vasubandhu seem to have already authored authoritative commentaries on its content. The fascinating discovery of the worlds oldest book. The story of the world s earliest dated printed book wood, frances, barnard, mark on. What the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest printed book, has. Dec 20, 20 equally incorrect are websites whose claims are based on the premise that a book is a printed object. The diamond sutra is one of the most historically important texts in the buddhist faith, in part because a copy of it is the oldest surviving dated printed book in the world 868 a.
According to national library of peking in 1961, the diamond sutra is described as. For dharma practitioners, the fact that the diamond sutra is the worlds oldest book should matter mostly to historians. The oldest printed text in the world the diamond sutra. Found in a walled up cave in china along with other printed materials, the book is made up of chinese characters printed on a scroll of grey printed paper, wrapped along a wooden pole. The sixteenfoot buddhist scroll was discovered among the artifacts in the dunhuang caves, also mogao caves or caves of the thousand buddhas in china. This key buddhist teaching, made 500 years before gutenberg inked his press, is the worlds oldest printed book. The diamond sutra, as described by the british library, is the worlds earliest complete survival of a dated printed book. The printing itself was done using large wooden blocks and, although earlier printed books have survived, this copy of the diamond sutra is the oldest that bears a specific date. This image is from the diamond sutra, the world s oldest printed book. This sutra a sanskrit word that means a religious teaching or sermon, in particular that of the buddha is commonly regarded as one of the most revered.
Sep 12, 2012 for dharma practitioners, the fact that the diamond sutra is the worlds oldest book should matter mostly to historians. A new translation of the worlds oldest printed book. British library and is acknowledged as the oldest dated printed book. At 6,000wordslong, the diamond sutra is short, but still among the great books in history. Ask people to name the worlds oldest printed book and the common reply is gutenbergs bible. Til the world s oldest printed book is the diamond sutra and it was created in 868 a. Few venture that the answer is a revered buddhist text called the diamond sutra, printed in 868 a. The list of oldest surviving books in the world is incomplete without the diamond sutra. Although there are block prints that preceded this, they are either not dated or no longer in existence.
Jun 28, 2016 the vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra has been translated from sanskrit into english variously as the diamond sutra, the diamond cutter sutra, the vajra sutra and the the diamond sutra. Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest. A buddhist holy text, the diamond sutra is considered to be the oldest surviving dated printed book in the world. It is, in the words of the british library, the earliest complete survival of a dated printed book. The oldest known printed book that can be clearly dated is a copy of the sanskrit vajracchedikaprajnaparamitasutra buddhas diamond sutra, dated by its maker on may 868 ad in china.
Diamond sutra is in the form of a scroll of seven strips of grey paper printed with chinese characters and joined together around a wooden pole. The complexity of chinese and korean symbols creates a major stumbling block to the process. Also known by its sanskrit title vajracchedika, the diamond sutra posits that something is what it is only because of what it is not. English translation, by chung tai translation committee. Everything you need to know about the ancient diamond sutra. This copy of the diamond sutra in chinese language, complete with a beautifully illustrated frontispiece, is the worlds earliest dated, printed book. On may the earliest dated printed book was issued, a chinese copy of the socalled diamond sutra, one of the most important textbooks of buddhism, originally written in the c. Did you know the diamond sutra, the worlds earliest dated printed book, is in the british library. The worlds oldest dated book, the diamond sutra, was published by wang jie on behalf of his parents on the fifteenth of the fourth moon of the ninth year of xian long this day in 868. The diamond sutra is relatively short, only 6,000 words and is part of a larger canon of sutras or sacred texts in mahayana buddhism, the branch of buddhism most common in. The world s oldest known printed book, the diamond sutra, a sevenpage scroll printed with wood blocks on paper, is produced in china.
Mar 27, 2020 among these manuscripts, there were some of the world s oldest surviving buddhist paintings and the book is known as diamond sutra from 863 ad. It starts by giving a background on aurel stein and how he became captivated by alexander the great at a young age, eventually developing a keen interest in central asia. Journeys on the silk road tells the story of the diamond sutra s discovery by aurel stein in 1907. Here are some of the oldest surviving books in the world. May 10, 2017 the printing itself was done using large wooden blocks and, although earlier printed books have survived, this copy of the diamond sutra is the oldest that bears a specific date. The precision with which one can date the creation of this book is purely down to the fact that it gives us its publication datethe only such case on this list it is, according to the british library, where it now resides, the earliest example of a dated, printed book in the world. The oldest known printed book in the world ancient origins. The oldest japanese book, the buddhist diamond sutra contained six sheets of texts and woodcut illustrations. Vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra is a mahayana buddhist. But one that most people dont know about is the diamond sutra the worlds earliest dated and printed book the messages of this ancient text are just as powerful today as they were a thousand years ago.
It is known as the diamond sutra because its teachings are said to be like diamonds that cut away all dualistic thought, releasing one from the attachment to objects and. The diamond sutra project is a notforprofit endeavour aimed at furthering the life work of william gemmell 18711947. The diamond sutra vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra. The buddhist text is a meditation upon the detachment necessary for transcendent wisdom. The buddhist text known as the diamond sutra is believed to be the oldest surviving printed book in the world. The diamond sutra, the oldest printed text in the world, goes to press. A chinese version of a key text in the mahayana buddhist tradition, this diamond sutra. Among the manuscripts was perhaps the oldest printed book actually a scroll in existence, the diamond sutra, dated 868. The extraordinary discovery of the world s oldest book posted. Made in 868 ad and written in chinese, the text contains a significant dialogue on perception, and is one of the most important sacred works of the buddhist faith. Its major themes are anatman notself, the emptiness of all phenomena though the term shunyata itself does not appear in the text, the liberation of all beings without attachment and the importance of spreading and teaching the diamond sutra itself. Acta orientalia academiae scientiarum hungaricae 53, 12, 6577. This book is an excellent look at the diamond sutra at the british library, the oldest.
The work, which offers meditations on illusion and perception, was originally written in sanskrit and first translated into chinese in 402 a. The diamond sutra, as described by the british library, is the world s earliest complete survival of a dated printed book. The diamond sutra and the sutra of hui neng pdf ebook. May 11, 2016 smart news keeping you current five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest dated printed book printed over 1,100 years ago, a chinese copy of the diamond sutra at the british. A typical english translation contains about 6,000 words, and an average reader could finish it in less than 30 minutes, easily. Pdf the diamond sutra and the sutra of hui neng download. May 11, 2016 thinking of the diamond sutra, the oldest printed book may 11, 2016 james ford patheos explore the world s faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality.
A shorter, reconstructed version of the sutra claimed to be closer to the original. But if you were to ask ten dharma teachers what it is about, you might get ten different answers, because the diamond. The diamond sutra is considered to be the oldest surviving, dated, printed, book in the world. The first is notable for being the oldest book in the world with a front cover. The diamond sutra, the earliest surviving dated complete printed. Reverently made for universal free distribution by wang jie on behalf of his two parents. The diamond sutra is an ancient buddhist sermon that generation of buddhists have memorized and chanted since at least the fifth century. The diamond sutra is the world s earliest dated printed book. Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the world s oldest dated printed book printed over 1,100 years ago, a chinese copy of the diamond sutra at. Image from the unique copy of the diamond sutra preserved in the british library. Sep 17, 2012 the copy of diamond sutra worlds oldest known dated printed book. It was found in a walled up cave in china, along with other printed materials. The book of kells, the gutenberg bible, and the dead sea scrolls.
The chinese diamond sutra, the oldest known dated printed. The vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra contains the discourse of the buddha to a senior monk, subhuti. This printed book also has a beautifully illustrated front piece. The diamond sutra, composed in india in the fourth century ce, is one of the most treasured works of buddhist literature and is the oldest existing printed book in the world. Diamond sutra a new translation of the classic buddhist text. The vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra has been translated from sanskrit into english variously as the diamond sutra, the diamond cutter. These are pages of the diamond sutra the oldest known dated. Price translated into english around 50 pages of the diamond sutra republished by shambhala publishers, 1990. Disocvered in china in 1907 by archaeologist sir marc aurel stein the book has the actual date inscribed which when translated reads may the diamond sutra, a buddhist scripture from the tang dynasty and also the world s first widely printed book.
The silk road once linked china with the mediterranean. Frances wood is head of the chinese section at the british library. A chinese version of a key text in the mahayana buddhist tradition, this diamond sutra found among. Diamond sutra a buddhist holy text, the diamond sutra is considered to be the oldest surviving dated printed book in the world. The oldest printed text in the world is believed to be the diamond sutra, a book of mahayana buddhism that was found in a cave 1146 years ago. The attached image is the diamond sutra, which is the buddhist text that is being referred to in this quote. The fascinating discovery of the worlds oldest book ask people to name the worlds oldest printed book and the common reply is gutenbergs bible. Printed copy of the diamond sutra the british library. The oldest complete printed and dated book is a buddhist text known as the diamond sutra, a name apparently suggested by the buddha himself, as the text is designed to cut like a diamond blade through worldly illusion to illuminate what is real and everlasting. The copy of diamond sutra world s oldest known dated printed book. The oldest complete, printed and dated book to have survived is the diamond sutra. Inside, scrolls were piled from floor to ceiling, undisturbed for a thousand years. Equally incorrect are websites whose claims are based on the premise that a book is a printed object. The story of the worlds earliest dated printed book frances wood.
In the lower lefthand corner of the illustration can be found the buddhas disciple subhuti, listening to buddha presenting the diamond sutra. It was produced on the 11 may 868, according to the western calendar. The diamond sutra and the sutra of huineng by huineng. World s oldest known printed book diamond sutra 868 ad found hidden in secret library part of caves of buddhas nothing exists as an isolated self, because it is dependent upon and connected to everything else. Sep 27, 2018 the diamond sutra is one of the most revered texts of mahayana buddhism. May 12, 2012 the worlds oldest book the link below is to an article about the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest surviving book, which was printed on the 11 may, 868. In addition to the actual text of the diamond sutra this web site provides a diamond sutra background page which explains the origins of the diamond sutra and information about how this new translation was done. Thats pretty cool, especially because it was printed in the year 868 using a technique. Historically a copy of the diamond sutra is the oldest known printed book circa 868 ce the term diamond refers to the diamond sword, an allusion to the ease which buddhist teachings cut.
The exact date of the composition of the diamond sutra in sanskrit is uncertainarguments for the 2nd and 5th centuries have been made. So you should view this fleeting world a star at dawn, a bubble in a stream, a flash of lightening in a summer cloud, a flickering lamp, a phantom, and a dream. In the centuries that followed, all memory of this vast storehouse seems to have been lost, but the precious artifacts survived in safety until the 20th century, when they were rediscovered by an appreciating world. Thinking of the diamond sutra, the oldest printed book. Text and commentaries translated from sanskrit and chinese.
This relic of buddhism isnt the outright oldest book woodblock printing was invented some 200300 years prior but its the oldest surviving book with the date it was published printed on it. What the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest printed book. The world s oldest dated book, the diamond sutra, was published by wang jie on behalf of his parents on the fifteenth of the fourth moon of the ninth year of xian long this day in 868. Golden etruscan orphic book six golden pages of the. Discover this and other landmarks of printing in the librarys collections. Note the earliest kind of printing was developed in china, japan, and korea a system of hand printing. The buddhist text known as the diamond sutra is believed to be the oldest. The sutra, which meditates on the illusory nature of the material world the central theme of buddhism, was originally written in sanskrit in india, from which it was translated to chinese in 401 ad.
Aug 02, 2009 finding new meaning in one of the worlds oldest books since at least the fifth century, generations of buddhists have memorized and chanted the diamond sutra, a short mahayana buddhist scripture. The project team is led by williams grandson william b. The oldest known printed book in the world the vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra has been translated from sanskrit into english variously as the diamond sutra, the diamond cutter sutra, the vajra sutra and the vajra cutter sutra. Restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra. The buddhist sutra is one of the most influential buddhist sutras in east asia. It is an important buddhist text that has a long and profound history. In 1900, at the cave of the thousand buddhas in dunhuang, china, the worlds oldest surviving, dated, printed document was discovered.
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