Back then, printing was limited in the number of editions made and nearly exclusively decorative, used for pictures and designs. Printed over 1100 years ago, a chinese copy of the diamond sutra at the. The diamond sutra, the earliest surviving dated complete printed. The oldest known printed book in the world ancient origins. The story of the worlds earliest dated printed book at. Bbc news restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra. Found in a walled up cave in china along with other printed materials, the book is made up of chinese characters printed on a scroll of grey printed paper, wrapped along a wooden pole. 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. Did you know the diamond sutra, the worlds earliest dated printed book, is in the british library. A buddhist holy text, the diamond sutra is considered to be the oldest surviving dated printed book in the world.
May 17, 2019 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. Printed copy of the diamond sutra the british library. Hidden for centuries in a sealed cave in northwest china, the remarkable discovery of the worlds earliest printed book, and one of the most important sacred works. A copy of this sacred text, which was discovered in the mogao caves of dunhuang, china, has been described as being the worlds earliest complete survival of a dated printed book. Paternal seductions in early mahayana buddhist literature berkeley. It was produced on the 11 may 868, according to the western calendar. It was produced in ad 868, predating gutenbergs movable type printing in europe by some 600 years. The diamond sutra free pdf book 1912 earliest surviving dated complete printed book. The whole text of the earliest dated printed book the diamond sutra will be on display at the british library for the first time over a period of eighteen months between march 2014 august 2015 following extensive conservation, the diamond sutra scroll currently remains in separate panels giving the unique opportunity to show all the panels in turn see timetable below. 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.
The diamond sutra now resides at the british library, along with an acknowledgement that it is the oldest dated printed book in existence. These are pages of the diamond sutra the oldest known. It was discovered by accident in the early twentieth century along with tens of thousands of other scrolls in a hidden cave at the buddhist mogao cave site in dunhuang, northwest china. Prajna paramita heart sutra mantra with lyrics duration.
May 11 today in history, birthdays, holidays and celebrations. Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds. May 11, 2014 on may 11, 868, the earliest dated printed book was issued, a chinese copy of the socalled diamond sutra, one of the most important textbooks of buddhism, originally written in the 1st c. Sep 04, 2018 when it comes to ancient texts, most are familiar with the big names. Diamond sutra a new translation of the classic buddhist text. You might think the it was johannes gutenberg who invented modern printing. The very first printed book the diamond sutra scihi. A copy of the chinese version of diamond sutra, found among the dunhuang manuscripts in the early 20th century by aurel stein, was dated back to may 11, 868. The development of printing in china in the 8th century paved the way for this book. 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, the oldest printed text in the world, goes to press save. The diamond sutra project gutenberg selfpublishing. Time for a new translation a message from alex johnson one day i was reading a text of the diamond sutra and i thought to myself, why is this so hard. It is an important buddhist text that has a long and profound history. 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. 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. It was found in a holy site called the mogao or peerless caves or the. U cal press, 2005 entitled be all you cant be, and other gainful losses in the diamond sutra. The diamond sutra free pdf book 1912 earliest surviving. According to national library of peking in 1961, the diamond sutra is described as.
The diamond sutra the diamond sutra at the british library is the worlds earliest dated printed book, and was made in ad 868. A copy of the diamond sutra, found among the dunhuang manuscripts in the early 20th century, is, in the words of the british library, the earliest complete survival of a dated printed book. The earliest dated printed book known is diamond sutra, printed in china in 868 ce. A copy of the diamond sutra, found among the dunhuang manuscripts in the early 20th century, is, in the words of the british library, the earliest complete survival of a dated printed book 1. The book of kells, the gutenberg bible, and the dead sea scrolls. Restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra. It is a key object of devotion and study in zen buddhism. 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. In 1900, at the cave of the thousand buddhas in dunhuang, china, the worlds oldest surviving, dated, printed document was discovered. The original manuscript was one of many discovered in the mogao caves of dunhaung, china. Copying and recitation of the diamond sutra was a widespread devotional practice, and stories attributing miraculous powers to these acts are recorded in chinese, japanese, tibetan, and mongolian sources.
Discover this and other landmarks of printing in the librarys collections. Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest. Among the manuscripts was perhaps the oldest printed book actually a scroll in existence, the diamond sutra, dated 868. The diamond sutra project is a notforprofit endeavour aimed at furthering the life work of william gemmell 18711947. The buddhist text known as the diamond sutra is believed to be the oldest surviving printed book in the world. 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. A copy of the chinese version of diamond sutra, found among the dunhuang manuscripts in the early 20th century by aurel stein, was dated back to may 11, 868 and is the earliest complete survival of a dated printed book. The story of the worlds earliest dated printed book. Historically a copy of the diamond sutra is the oldest known printed book circa 868 ce the term diamond refers to the diamond sword, an allusion to the ease which buddhist teachings cut. It was produced some 600 years before gutenbergs movable type printing in europe, and is clearly the product of a mature printing industry in china.
A central text of indian buddhism, the diamond sutra was first translated. 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 the diamond sutra. This copy of the diamond sutra is the worlds earliest, dated, printed book ad 868. Diamond sutra, first printed book on 11 may 868 ce ulta din.
Illustrate how historical documents, artifacts, and sites are critical to world history. Mar 11, 2020 a copy of this book in the british library dates to the year 868 ce. 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. 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. 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. On may 11, 868, the earliest dated printed book was issued, a chinese copy of the socalled diamond sutra, one of the most important textbooks of buddhism, originally written in the 1st c. The diamond sutra, now recognized as one of the worlds great literary jewels, has recently undergone conservation. 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. Too fragile to go on permanent display, it can be viewed online in greater. The diamond sutra, the earliest surviving dated complete. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. 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. The british library is also part of the international.
The diamond sutra is part of a larger canon of early mahayana sutras known as the prajnaparamita meaning perfection of wisdom sutras. A copy of the tangdynasty chinese version of the diamond sutra was found among the dunhuang manuscripts in 1900 by daoist monk wang yuanlu and sold to aurel stein in 1907. It was produced some 600 years before gutenbergs movable type printing in europe, and is clearly the product of a. It is, in the words of the british library, the earliest complete survival of a dated printed book. The first translation of the diamond sutra into chinese was done sometime around the beginning of the fifth century by the venerated and prolific. Oct 10, 2012 d prajna paramita hrdaya sutram sanskrit. Thus the oldest book in the world must surely be the gutenberg bible oldest printed book in the west, from c. Sure, printing with metal movable types including a printing press and a suitable ink, but mostover a way to. 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. Nov 12, 2012 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. On may 11, 868, the earliest dated printed book was issued, a chinese copy of the socalled diamond sutra, one of the most important. 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.
While individual sheets of woodblock printed paper have been found dating to the early tang dynasty 7th century, the diamond sutra is the earliest complete book to be found intact. Buddha channel best buddhism videos for buddhist 2,441,295 views. It is made up of seven pages of paper pasted into a roll just. The attached image is the diamond sutra, which is the buddhist text that is being referred to in this quote. However, it is suspected that book printing may have occurred long before this date. Background of the diamond sutra diamond sutra a new. The diamond sutra vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra. Dec 05, 2010 restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra. The very first printed book the diamond sutra scihi blogscihi blog. 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 sanskrit to chinese in about 400 ad. Mar 18, 2019 the earliest dated printed book known is diamond sutra, printed in china in 868 ce.
In the centuries that followed, all memory of this vast storehouse seems to have been lost, but the precious artifacts survived in safety until the 20th century, when they were rediscovered by an appreciating world. 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. But one that most people dont know about is the diamond sutra the worlds earliest dated and printed book the messages of this ancient text are just as powerful today as they were a thousand years ago. Equally incorrect are websites whose claims are based on the premise that a book is a printed object. The oldest extant printed book is a work of the diamond sutra and dates back to 868 ad, during the tang dynasty. 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. Mark barnard describes the book produced in ad 868 and found in 1907. This copy of the diamond sutra in chinese language, complete with a beautifully illustrated frontispiece, is the worlds earliest dated, printed book.
But one that most people dont know about is the diamond sutra the worlds earliest dated and printed book. However, the honour of being the earliest printed book goes to a buddhist text, known in english as the diamond sutra, printed in chinese in ad 868 on paper using woodblocks, a copy of which was brought from a cave in western china to the british museum in 1909 by the hungarianborn, britishfunded explorer and archaeologist of central asia. Back then, printing was limited in the number of editions made and nearly exclusively decorative, used for. The project team is led by williams grandson william b. For a close reading of the texts rhetoric, see chapter 4. The chinese diamond sutra, the oldest known dated printed. Diamond sutra, first printed book on 11 may 868 ce history. Diamond sutra, first printed book on 11 may 868 ce diamond sutra sanskrit.
One of the best known commentaries is the exegesis on the diamond sutra by huineng, the sixth patriarch of the chan school. The oldest complete, printed and dated book to have survived is the diamond sutra. The story of the worlds earliest dated printed book wood, frances, barnard, mark on. The diamond sutra is the worlds earliest dated printed book.
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