Transcription of Mahavaipulya purnabudha Sutra (The Complete Enlightenment Sutra) in Gold on Oak Paper

The Mahavaipulya purnabudha Sutra, which is also called the Complete Enlightenment Sutra, may be viewed as a sort of “course” on ascetic practices intended for Buddhist monks in Korea. It was made widely known by Monk Jinul of the Goryeo Dynasty, who closely adhered to the principles of this sutra and called it the Youigyeong Sutra. The sutra is written in gold on brown paper and decorated with Byeonsangdo, an illustration that briefly describes the contents of the sutra. Measuring 26.5 cm in length and 11.5 cm in width, this is a collapsible sutra, akin to a folding screen. This transcription consists of the first and second volumes bound into one book. According to the publication record, this transcription was made by Choe Jeok and Kim Cheong in 1357 (the 6th year of the reign of King Gongmin of the Goryeo Dynasty) in order to pray for the bliss of Gye Hang. The front page conains pictures of a guardian deity and Byeonsangdo, and the text includes scriptures written by two monks named Jigong and Hyeneung. Even though the writer of this transcription is unknown and the workmanship is not of particularly high quality, it is regarded as an important material that reveals the formality of sutras of the Goryeo Period.