Loading

Transcription of Avatamsaka Sutra (The Flower Garland Sutra), Jin Version, in Silver on Indigo Paper, Volume 13

UnknownGoryeo Dynasty, 14th century

Horim Museum

Horim Museum
Seoul, South Korea

Avatamsaka Sutra is one of the canonical scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism; the central idea expressed in this sutra is the unity of Buddha and sentient beings. As the most fundamental text for Korean Buddhism, this sutra has had seminal influence on Korean Buddhist philosophy along with the Saddharmapundarika Sutra (Lotus Sutra). This book is Volume 13 of the 60 volumes of the Jin Version translated by Buddhabhadra of Eastern Jin; the texts were transcribed in silver on indigo paper, which can be rolled as a scroll. The title of this sutra is written in gold on the cover, which is elaborately decorated with flower designs; below the title is a Chinese character “晋 (Jin),” indicating that this sutra belongs to the Jin Version. At the end of the book is a record of corrections by Buddhist monk Hyangyeo, who is presumed to be Chewon, the head monk of Haeinsa Temple. Woodblocks made by Chewon are now kept at Haeinsa Temple, and their contents state, among others, that Hyangyeo is the pen-name of Chewon, an eminent monk during the reign of King Chungsuk in the Goryeo Period. This transcription of Avatamsaka Sutra was made around 1330, judging from the production year of the woodblocks in Haeinsa Temple and the style of the sutra.

Details

  • Title: Transcription of Avatamsaka Sutra (The Flower Garland Sutra), Jin Version, in Silver on Indigo Paper, Volume 13
  • Creator: Unknown
  • Date: Goryeo Dynasty, 14th century
  • Provenance: Horim Museum
  • Type: Book

Get the app

Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more

Flash this QR Code to get the app
Google apps