It is the worlds oldest book bearing a specific date of publication. To see more of the diamond sutra please go to our award winning turning the pages. 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 oldest known printed book in the world ancient origins. 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. 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. On may 11, 868, the diamond sutra was published in northern china. The attached image is the diamond sutra, which is the buddhist text that is being referred to in this quote. Text and commentaries translated from sanskrit and chinese counterpoint the diamond sutra, translated from the sanskrit mostly from the editions by max muller and edward conze with selections of indian and chan commentary from figures such as asanga, vasubandhu, huineng, linji disambiguation.
Sep 27, 2018 the diamond sutra is one of the most revered texts of mahayana buddhism. The diamond sutra is a spiritual treasure and a key text of mahayana buddhism. The worlds oldest printed books were the wood block printings printed in china during the 7th century which were printed to spread the teachings of buddha and the sutras of buddhism. Diamond sutra is in the form of a scroll of seven strips of grey paper printed with chinese characters and joined together around a.
Ask people to name the worlds oldest printed book and the common reply is gutenbergs bible. This copy of the diamond sutra in chinese language, complete with a beautifully illustrated frontispiece, is the worlds earliest dated, printed book. The vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra has been translated from sanskrit into english variously as the diamond sutra, the diamond cutter. Vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra is a mahayana sutra from the prajnaparamita sutras or perfection of wisdom genre. Conserving the diamond sutra, idpukvideo published on 31 jan 20. The word sutra comes from sanskrit and generally corresponds to a religious teaching in this case that of the buddha. 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. Buddhism is a nontheistic religion that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices largely based on teachings attributed to siddhartha gautama, who is commonly known as the buddha, meaning the awakened one.
This copy of the diamond sutra is the worlds earliest, dated, printed book ad 868. One such book is the sanskrit book, the vajracchedik. Diamond sutra, first printed book on 11 may 868 ce history. Counterpoint, 2001 isbn 1582432562 frances wood and mark barnard. 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. It is, in the words of the british library, the earliest complete survival of a dated printed book. Restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra bbc. Few venture that the answer is a revered buddhist text call. The diamond sutra is an ancient buddhist sermon that generation of buddhists have memorized and chanted since at least the fifth century. Carved wooden blocks were used to print this copy on a scroll made from seven panels of paper. On may 11, 868, the oldest complete, printed and dated book to. The extraordinary discovery of the buddhist diamond sutra. Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest dated printed book.
This copy of the diamond sutra is the worlds earliest, dated, printed book. Text and commentaries translated from sanskrit and chinese counterpoint the diamond sutra, translated from the sanskrit mostly from the editions by max muller and edward conze with selections of indian and chan commentary from figures such as asanga, vasubandhu, huineng, linji and chiang wei. Today in history the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest surviving, dated, printed, book printed by wang jie and made into a scroll. Vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra is a mahayana buddhist. Also known by its sanskrit title vajracchedika, the diamond sutra posits that something is what it is only because of what it is not. It is perhaps the most widely revered of the buddhist texts, having been variously translated from the original sanskrit into tibetan, chinese, mongol, manchu, japanese, korean and. The diamond sutra of 868 now lives at the british library, whose turning the pages project includes close looks online at the worlds oldest printed book. 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. These are pages of the diamond sutra the oldest known dated. Diamond sutra, first printed book on 11 may 868 ce may 12, 2016 diamond sutra sanskrit.
British library, 2010 isbn 9780712350907 joyce morgan and conrad walters, journeys on the silk road. Buddhism archives sanskriti hinduism and indian culture. While this copy of the diamond sutra is now considered the oldest known printed book, its contents are central to indian buddhism, and are believed to have been translated from. The story of the worlds earliest 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. The buddhist text known as the diamond sutra is believed to be the oldest surviving printed book in the world.
Marc aurel stein, a hungarianborn british archaeologist and. From its sanskrit translation, its full name is the perfect wisdom. 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. 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. Diamond sutra a new translation of the classic buddhist text. A central text of indian buddhism, the diamond sutra was first translated from sanskrit into chinese in about ad 400. The diamond sutra is set up as a dialogue between the buddha and subhuti, one of his elderly disciples. Ask people to name the world s oldest printed book and the common reply is gutenbergs bible. I never fallowing indian tanil if i want latter i come into indian tamil, by the way i never speak about sanskrit or old veda, for me god never wearing gold, but indian gods wearing to much of gold, but gods never wearing, if you buy gold th. Printed over 1,100 years ago, a chinese copy of the.
Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds. Today in history the diamond sutra, the world s oldest surviving, dated, printed, book printed by wang jie and made into a scroll. The worlds oldest copyleft book friday, may 11, 2012 at 2. Price translated into english around 50 pages of the diamond sutra republished by shambhala publishers, 1990. Restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra. Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest. What the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest printed book, has.
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. Worlds oldest known printed book diamond sutra 868 ad found hidden in secret library part of caves of buddhas nothing exists as an isolated self, because it is dependent upon and connected to everything else. 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. Diamond sutra is in the form of a scroll of seven strips of grey paper printed with chinese characters and joined together around a wooden pole. Sep 12, 2012 for dharma practitioners, the fact that the diamond sutra is the worlds oldest book should matter mostly to historians. If you would like to know more about the diamond sutra as a buddhist teaching, one of the most accessible ways to learn is through videos by an american monk named hyungak paul muenzen. Printed copy of the diamond sutra the british library. The worlds oldest dated book 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. World s oldest known printed book diamond sutra 868 ad found hidden in secret library part of caves of buddhas nothing exists as an isolated self, because it is dependent upon and connected to everything else. Jun 25, 2019 the world s oldest dated book 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. Jun 19, 2016 no one is sure who wang jie was or why he had the diamond sutra printed. While this copy of the diamond sutra is now considered the oldest known printed book, its contents are central to indian buddhism, and are. A central text of the indian buddhism, the diamond sutra was first translated from sanskrit into chinese in about ad 400. Dec 05, 2010 restoring the world s oldest book, the diamond sutra.
Sep 17, 2012 the worlds oldest printed books were the wood block printings printed in china during the 7th century which were printed to spread the teachings of buddha and the sutras of buddhism. Frontispiece of the chinese diamond sutra, the oldest known dated printed book in the world. Finding new meaning in one of the worlds oldest books since at least the. The british library is part of the international dunhuang project, a groundbreaking collaboration which aims to make more than 100,000 manuscripts, paintings and artefacts from silk road sites available on the internet. According to buddhist tradition, the buddha lived and taught in the eastern part of the indian subcontinent sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries bce. Golden etruscan orphic book six golden pages of the. The diamond sutra, as described by the british library, is the worlds earliest complete survival of a dated printed book. This priceless religious teaching survives as the oldest dated, printed book. 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. Mar 27, 2020 among these manuscripts, there were some of the world s oldest surviving buddhist paintings and the book is known as diamond sutra from 863 ad.
The diamond sutra, a sanskrit text translated into chinese. Also known by its sanskrit title vajracchedika, the diamond sutra. 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. A central text of the indian buddhism, the diamond sutra was first translated from sanskrit. The manuscript was one of many discovered in the mogao caves of dunhaung, china. A daoist monk, wang yuanlu, discovered the socalled dunhaung manuscripts in 1900.
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. The diamond sutra goodreads meet your next favorite book. No one is sure who wang jie was or why he had the diamond sutra printed. See more ideas about books, buddhism and mahayana buddhism. The diamond sutra represents the mahayana school of buddhist thought and has, for more than two thousand years, influenced a considerable part of the buddhist faith. The extraordinary discovery of the worlds oldest book posted. British library, 2010 isbn 9780712350907 friedrich max muller, ed. What the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest printed book, has to say. Few venture that the answer is a revered buddhist text called the diamond sutra, printed in 868 a.
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 diamond sutra is one of the most revered texts of mahayana buddhism. For dharma practitioners, the fact that the diamond sutra is the worlds oldest book should matter mostly to historians. 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. 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. Text and commentaries translated from sanskrit and chinese. He was also able to purchase seven thousand complete manuscripts written in chinese, sanskrit, sogdian, tibetan, runic turki and uighur. It is an important buddhist text that has a long and profound history. Like most buddhist sutras, even the diamond sutra starts with the famous sanskrit line. The oldest printed text in the world is believed to be the diamond sutra, a book of. The diamond sutra project gutenberg selfpublishing. This small books enigmatic text can be recited in a mere forty minutes. Estimates for its date of composition range from the second century b.
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. The book unwittingly came to light when a chinese monk clearing sand from a buddhist meditation cave in 1900 noticed a crack in a wall. The diamond sutra is the worlds earliest dated printed book. Diamond sutra wikipedia diamond sutra from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia jump to navigation jump to search this article contains sp. The diamond sutra is a collection of buddhist teachings the word sutra comes from sanskrit and means teachings or scriptures. Among these manuscripts, there were some of the worlds oldest surviving buddhist paintings and the book is known as diamond sutra from 863 ad. The text was originally discovered in 1900 by a monk in dunhuang, china, an old outpost of the silk road on the edge of the gobi desert. 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. May 11, 2016 on may 11, 868, the diamond sutra was published in northern china. 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.
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