Marc aurel stein, a hungarianborn british archaeologist and. 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. The diamond sutra, the earliest dated example of woodblock printing, and the earliest surviving dated complete book, was published in china on may 11, 868. The exact date of the composition of the diamond sutra in sanskrit is uncertainarguments for the 2nd and 5th centuries have been made. I have read several times about the diamond sutra and form my opinions stated in the above paragraph. 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 opening gatha was composed by thich nhat hanh to precede the translation. The hotly debated issue around with the novel indulekha revolves was the marriage practices of upper caste hindus in kerala. The oldest complete, printed and dated book to have survived is the diamond sutra. Discover this and other landmarks of printing in the librarys collections. Dec 20, 20 equally incorrect are websites whose claims are based on the premise that a book is a printed object.
Few venture that the answer is a revered buddhist text call. The fascinating discovery of the worlds oldest book. At 6,000wordslong, the diamond sutra is short, but still among the great books in history. Worlds oldest printed books are the chinese translations of ancient sanskrit teachings of buddha and buddhism. The diamond sutra is one of the most revered texts of mahayana buddhism. Printed copy of the diamond sutra the british library. May 11, 2016 on may 11, 868, the diamond sutra was published in northern china. The diamond sutra, the earliest surviving dated complete. The british library recently completed a decadelong project to conserve the oldest dated printed book in the work, a scroll copy in chinese of the buddhist text, the diamond sutra from the silk.
It was found in a holy site called the mogao or peerless caves or the caves of a thousand buddhas, which was a. Diamond sutra a new translation of the classic buddhist text. It was produced on the 11 may 868, according to the western calendar. The british library is also part of the international. What the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest printed book, has. Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest. Aug 02, 2009 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. The diamond sutra was printed by method of woodblock printing, a strenuous method in which the text to be printed would be carved into a woodblocks surface, essentially to be used to stamp the words onto the writing surface medium. The sixteenfoot buddhist scroll was discovered among the artifacts in the dunhuang caves, also mogao caves or caves of the thousand buddhas in china.
In 1900, at the cave of the thousand buddhas in dunhuang, china, the worlds oldest surviving, dated, printed document was discovered. The hotly debated issue around with the novel indulekha revolves was the marriage practices of upper caste hindus in. Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds. Nov 12, 2012 ask people to name the worlds oldest printed book and the common reply is gutenbergs bible. The diamond sutra is part of a larger canon of early mahayana sutras known as the prajnaparamita meaning perfection of wisdom sutras. 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. Vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra is a mahayana sutra from the prajnaparamita sutras or perfection of wisdom genre. 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. The chinese diamond sutra, the oldest known dated printed.
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. It is an important buddhist text that has a long and profound history. The extraordinary discovery of the buddhist diamond sutra. Restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra bbc. The oldest japanese book diamond sutra was printed in 868 ce. The diamond sutra is the worlds oldest printed book. The diamond sutra, the earliest surviving dated complete printed.
Jun 19, 2016 no one is sure who wang jie was or why he had the diamond sutra printed. The oldest extant printed book is a work of the diamond sutra and dates back to 868 ad, during the tang dynasty. May 11, 2017 the oldest complete, printed and dated book to have survived is the diamond sutra. Frontispiece of the chinese diamond sutra, the oldest known dated printed book in the world.
It is made up of seven pages of paper pasted into a roll just over five metres long. Restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra. Sep 12, 2012 for dharma practitioners, the fact that the diamond sutra is the worlds oldest book should matter mostly to historians. This book translates the diamond sutra in an easytounderstand way. May 17, 2019 the diamond sutra is an ancient buddhist sermon that generation of buddhists have memorized and chanted since at least the fifth century. On may 11, 868, the oldest complete, printed and dated book to. The diamond sutra is one of the most influential mahayana sutras in east asia, and is a key object of devotion and study in zen buddhism. Or the famous novel in malayalam indulekha was published in 1889. It is my most important reading experience ever, i believe in my whole life too. State an important characteristic of the oldest japanese book. This chinese version of the buddhist diamond sutra was printed in northern china in 868. 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 vajra cutter sutra. This book is an excellent look at the diamond sutra at the british library, the oldest dated printed book. Printed over 1100 years ago, a chinese copy of the diamond sutra at the.
A chinese version of a key text in the mahayana buddhist tradition, this diamond sutrafound among. This sutra appears in thich nhat hanh, chanting from the. Oldest printed book published national geographic society. Among the manuscripts was perhaps the oldest printed book actually a scroll in existence, the diamond sutra, dated 868.
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 library is one of the most. A daoist monk, wang yuanlu, discovered the socalled dunhaung manuscripts in 1900. 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. Sep 27, 2018 the diamond sutra is one of the most revered texts of mahayana buddhism. Dec 05, 2010 restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra. On may 11, 868, the diamond sutra was published in northern china. Today in history the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest surviving, dated, printed, book printed by wang jie and made into a scroll. Thus the oldest book in the world must surely be the gutenberg bible oldest printed book in the west, from c. 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. This sutra a sanskrit word that means a religious teaching or sermon, in particular that of.
The diamond sutra is the first printed book in history, predating the gutenberg bible. The diamond sutra penetrates through notions tightly surrounding your heart and liberates you. State an important characteristic of the oldest japanese. The diamond sutra was displayed in the british library at one stage near a gutenberg bible with the latter labeled as the worlds earliest printed book. This copy of the diamond sutra in chinese language, complete with a beautifully illustrated frontispiece, is the worlds earliest dated, printed book. The diamond sutra now resides at the british library, along with an acknowledgement that it is the oldest dated printed book in existence. The sutra, which meditates on the illusory nature of the material worldthe central theme of buddhism, was originally written in sanskrit in india, from which it was translated to chinese in 401 ad. It is a key object of devotion and study in zen buddhism. 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.
Belonging to the prajnaparamita, or perfect wisdom tradition, this sutra dates back to the year 868, centuries before the west had even started using paper, and it gathers buddhas. Jun 25, 2019 the diamond sutra played an important role in the life of huineng 6387, the sixth patriarch of chan. What the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest printed book. Written in chinese and featuring an illustrated frontispiece, the woodblock printed scroll is fivemetres long and dated 868ad. The diamond sutra played an important role in the life of huineng 6387, the sixth patriarch of chan. It is recorded in huinengs autobiography that when he was an adolescent selling firewood in a marketplace, he heard someone reciting the diamond sutra and immediately became enlightened. The buddhist text known as the diamond sutra is believed to be the oldest surviving printed book in the world.
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. The diamond sutra, now recognized as one of the worlds great literary jewels, has recently undergone conservation. May 11, 2019 the diamond sutra now resides at the british library, along with an acknowledgement that it is the oldest dated printed book in existence. Equally incorrect are websites whose claims are based on the premise that a book is a printed object. Ask people to name the worlds oldest printed book and the common. 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. This gorgeous woodblock print is the front page of the oldest surviving print manuscript in the world. Also known by its sanskrit title vajracchedika, the diamond sutra posits that something is what it is only because of what it is not. For dharma practitioners, the fact that the diamond sutra is the worlds oldest book should matter mostly to historians. 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 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. A copy of the chinese version of diamond sutra, found among the dunhuang manuscripts in the early 20th century by aurel stein, was dated back to may 11, 868. A chinese version of a key text in the mahayana buddhist tradition, this diamond sutrafound among other manuscripts in a cave in dunhuangwas printed from wooden blocks onto a scroll over 5m 16.
Translated into a variety of languages over a broad geographic range, the diamond sutra is one of the most influential mahayana sutras in east asia, and it is particularly prominent within the chan or zen tradition, along with the h. It is meant for a general audience explaining the history of the sutra, how it lay buried for a years in dunhuang, and how it came to the british library. Did you know the diamond sutra, the worlds earliest dated printed book, is in the british library. 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. Few venture that the answer is a revered buddhist text called the diamond sutra, printed in 868 a. Diamond sutra, first printed book on 11 may 868 ce history.
Ask people to name the worlds oldest printed book and the common reply is gutenbergs bible. Aug 21, 2014 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. 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 texts of mahayana buddhism. 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. It is recorded in huinengs autobiography that when he was an adolescent selling firewood in a marketplace, he heard someone reciting the. The diamond sutra is an ancient buddhist sermon that generation of buddhists have memorized and chanted since at least the fifth century.
Price translated into english around 50 pages of the diamond sutra republished by shambhala publishers, 1990. Or that by the time gutenberg got ink on his fingers nearly 600 years later and his revolutionary technology helped usher in the enlightenment. Newsela the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest dated. The frontispiece depicts the buddha, surrounded by monks, devotees and deities. Vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra is a mahayana buddhist. A copy of the chinese version of diamond sutra, found among the dunhuang manuscripts in the early 20th. Honoring the diamond sutra wherever this sutra is honored and revered there is a sacred site enshrining the presence of the buddha or one of the buddhas most venerable disciples. A chinese version of the diamond sutra is the worlds oldest printed book, dating from may 868. 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 library is. The manuscript was one of many discovered in the mogao caves of dunhaung, china.
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