While individual sheets of woodblockprinted paper have been found dating to the early tang dynasty 7th century, the diamond sutra is the earliest complete book to be found intact. These are pages of the diamond sutra the oldest known dated. It is a key object of devotion and study in zen buddhism. 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. Vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra is a mahayana buddhist sutra from the prajnaparamita, or perfection of wisdom genre, and emphasizes the practice of nonabiding and nonattachment. The diamond sutra is the first printed book in history, predating the gutenberg bible by almost 600 years. The diamond sutra was hidden for centuries in a cave in northwest china, and it was created from seven strips of yellowstained paper that were printed from carved wooden blocks and pasted together to form a scroll over five meters long.
The diamond sutra, now recognized as one of the worlds great literary jewels, has recently undergone conservation. Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds. Incidently, the diamond sutra has turned out to be the oldest printed book in the world, predating guttenberg by many many centuries. 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. Dec 20, 20 equally incorrect are websites whose claims are based on the premise that a book is a printed object. What the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest printed book, has. This book is an excellent look at the diamond sutra at the british library, the oldest dated printed book. The buddhist text known as the diamond sutra is believed to be the oldest surviving printed book in the world. Name the name of the oldest printed book of japan social science print culture and the modern world. Thus the oldest book in the world must surely be the gutenberg bible oldest printed book in the west, from c.
Til the worlds oldest printed book is the diamond sutra. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Til the worlds oldest printed book is the diamond sutra and it was created in 868 a. May 11, 2016 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. This priceless religious teaching survives as the oldest dated, printed book. 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. May 11, 2017 the oldest complete, printed and dated book to have survived is the diamond sutra. Few venture that the answer is a revered buddhist text called the diamond sutra, printed in 868 a. 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. Vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra is a mahayana sutra from the prajnaparamita sutras or perfection of wisdom genre.
Sep 12, 2012 among the manuscripts was perhaps the oldest printed book actually a scroll in existence, the diamond sutra, dated 868. The diamond sutra, the oldest printed text in the world, goes to press. The diamond sutra is the worlds earliest dated printed book. The diamond sutra, the earliest surviving dated complete. The diamond sutra now resides at the british library, along with an acknowledgement that it is the oldest dated printed book in existence. May 08, 2004 a book thought to be the oldest surviving printed book in the world has gone on display at the british library. The oldest extant printed book is a work of the diamond sutra and dates back to 868 ad, during the tang dynasty. It depicts the buddha, surrounded by monks and devotees. The precise date makes this particular edition of diamond sutra the worlds oldest printed and dated book in existence. It was produced on the 11 may 868, according to the western calendar.
According to national library of peking in 1961, the diamond sutra is described as. Or that by the time gutenberg got ink on his fingers nearly 600 years later and his revolutionary technology helped usher in the enlightenment. Diamond sutra a new translation of the classic buddhist text. Tool of engraving is the burin, a sharp, vshaped instrument. Background of the diamond sutra diamond sutra a new. This makes it the oldest surviving printed book, more than half a a millennium according to the date on the title page, an edition of the diamond sutra, one of the central texts of the. The scroll comprises of seven panels of paper, each of which was printed from a single block and stuck together to create a single scroll. On may 11, 868, the diamond sutra was published in northern china.
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. Reverently made for universal free distribution by wang jie on behalf of his two parents. Nov 05, 2012 conrad walters, coauthor of journeys on the silk road, explains the symbolism behind the opening image of the worlds oldest printed book the diamond sutra of 868ad. The oldest complete, printed and dated book to have survived is the diamond sutra. Or that by the time gutenberg got ink on his fingers nearly 600 years later. 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 chinese version of the buddhist diamond sutra was printed in northern china in 868. The diamond sutra is the first printed book in history, predating the gutenberg bible. The manuscript was one of many discovered in the mogao caves of dunhaung, china.
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. A daoist monk, wang yuanlu, discovered the socalled dunhaung manuscripts in 1900. The diamond sutra, as described by the british library, is the worlds earliest complete survival of a dated printed book. The earliest examples of woodblock printing are estimated to date as far back as 220 ce. 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. Newsela the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest dated. What the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest printed book. May 11, 2016 on may 11, 868, the diamond sutra was published in northern china. This is the oldest known printed book with an explicit date mentioned on it.
Sep 17, 2012 the copy of diamond sutra worlds oldest known dated printed book. The last few lines of the text, the colophon, identifies who printed it, when and why. Equally incorrect are websites whose claims are based on the premise that a book is a printed object. Bbc news entertainment oldest printed book on display. It was found in a holy site called the mogao or peerless caves or the caves of a thousand buddhas, which was a. 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. The diamond sutra, which bears the date 868 ad, was found in a walledup cave in dunhuang, northwest china, in 1907, along with other printed items.
Ask people to name the worlds oldest printed book and the common reply is gutenbergs bible. 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. Restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra bbc. Dec 05, 2010 restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra. 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. It is an important buddhist text that has a long and profound history. The oldest printed text in the world the diamond sutra. The british library is also part of the international. A copy of the chinese version of diamond sutra, found among the dunhuang manuscripts in the early 20th. 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. This book now resides at the british museum in london. 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. At the beginning of the 20th century, an abbot named wang yuanlu came to dunhuang area, discovered the sand covered stone grottoes, took up residence in one cave and began to clear out the others. Reverently made for universal free distribution by wang jie on behalf of his two parents, 11 may 868.
It is made up of seven pages of paper pasted into a roll just over five metres long. In the lower lefthand corner of the illustration can be found the buddhas disciple subhuti, listening to buddha presenting 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. Johann gensfleisch zur laden zum gutenberg did not invent printing when he began to produce books in mainz around ad 1450. May 17, 2019 the last few lines of the text, the colophon, identifies who printed it, when and why. 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. A complete woodblock printed scroll of the diamond sutra, dated 868 ce, was among several texts preserved in a sealed cave near. 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. 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. This copy of the diamond sutra in chinese language, complete with a beautifully illustrated frontispiece, is the worlds earliest dated, printed book. It is a 16 feet long scroll printed on a wood block in 868 ce.
The bible was the first book produced by a printing press. Movements and types of graphics diamond sutra gone, gone, gone beyond, gone utterly beyond, enlightenment hail. Marc aurel stein, a hungarianborn british archaeologist and. May 11, 2016 this makes it the oldest surviving printed book, more than half a a millennium according to the date on the title page, an edition of the diamond sutra, one of the central texts of the. Printed copy of the diamond sutra the british library. In 1900 a chinese monk, abbot wang yuanlu, discovered the sealed door to the cave, and in 1907 a hungarianbritish explorer named marc aurel stein was allowed to see inside the cave. This gorgeous woodblock print is the front page of the oldest surviving print manuscript 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. This sutra a sanskrit word that means a religious teaching or sermon, in particular that of. 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. 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. Name the name of the oldest printed book of japan social.
Jun 19, 2016 no one is sure who wang jie was or why he had the diamond sutra printed. 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. These are pages of the diamond sutra the oldest known. A sticker on the front said four pounds off making it sixteen pounds. Nov 12, 2012 ask people to name the worlds oldest printed book and the common reply is gutenbergs bible. Also known by its sanskrit title vajracchedika, the diamond sutra posits that something is what it is only because of what it is not. Diamond sutra, first printed book on 11 may 868 ce history. 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.
It is a fascinating story how aurel stein discovered the diamond sutra and many many more ancient scrolls, and silks, and murals. Restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra. The very first book i saw was frances wood and mark barnards the diamond sutra. Thinking of the diamond sutra, the oldest printed book. Conrad walters, coauthor of journeys on the silk road, explains the symbolism behind the opening image of the worlds oldest printed book the diamond sutra of 868ad. The copy of diamond sutra worlds oldest known dated printed book.
At 6,000wordslong, the diamond sutra is short, but still among the great books in history. A book thought to be the oldest surviving printed book in the world has gone on display at the british library. 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. May 12, 2016 diamond sutra, first printed book on 11 may 868 ce may 12, 2016 diamond sutra sanskrit. A complete woodblock printed scroll of the diamond sutra, dated 868 ce, was among several texts preserved in a sealed cave near dunhuang, in gansu province, china.
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. This printed book also has a beautifully illustrated front piece. Acta orientalia academiae scientiarum hungaricae 53, 12, 6577.
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