Transcription of Avatamsaka Sutra (The Flower Garland Sutra), in Gold and Indigo Paper

Daebanggwangbul hwaeomgyeong, which is also called Hwaeomgyeong (Avatamsaka Sutra) for short, embodies the central idea that Buddha and all creatures are one, rather than many. The Avatamsaka Sutra, as the basic sutra of the Hwaeom Order of Korean Buddhism, was one of the most influential sutras in the establishment of Korean Buddhism along with the Lotus Sutra. This book corresponds to volume 34 of the 40 volumes of the Zhenyuan version of the Avatamsaka Sutra translated by Samjangbanya of the Tang Dynasty. The sutra contains the ten religious precepts that Samantabhadra taught Sudhana to practice in order to obtain Buddha’s mercy. The transcription is composed of pictures and writing in gold on indigo paper. It is a folding screen type of book measuring 34 ㎝ by 11.5㎝ when folded. The beginning of the volume contains a publication record which states that the Chinese (Yuan) citizen An Sae-han made this book to commemorate his parents' respectable lesson in 1334 (the 3rd year of the second reign of King Chungsuk of the Goryeo Dynasty). The illustration, which summarizes in pictorial form the contents of the sutra, is elaborately drawn on the cover in gold paint, while the inscription in gold accompanying the illustration is at the rear of the book. This transcription was made for a personal deed, but as it is elaborate and faithful to the style of sutras of the Goryeo Dynasty, it is regarded as a valuable asset for the study of sutras written during the Goryeo Dynasty.