Discover this and other landmarks of printing in the librarys collections. It depicts the buddha, surrounded by monks and devotees. 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 sutra, the vajra sutra and the vajra cutter sutra.
The vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra has been translated from sanskrit into english variously as the diamond sutra, the diamond cutter. The diamond sutra is one of the most revered texts of mahayana buddhism and a jewel of the worlds religious literature. According to national library of peking in 1961, the diamond sutra is described as. 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. Thus the oldest book in the world must surely be the gutenberg bible oldest printed book in the west, from c. For dharma practitioners, the fact that the diamond sutra is the worlds oldest book should matter mostly to historians. 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. Smart news keeping you current 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. A copy of the mahayana buddhism sacred text called the diamond sutra is the world s earliest complete example of a dated printed book.
Nov 05, 2012 conrad walters, coauthor of journeys on the silk road, explains the symbolism behind the opening image of the world s oldest printed book the diamond sutra of 868ad. Restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra bbc. In 1900, at the cave of the thousand buddhas in dunhuang, china, the worlds oldest surviving, dated, printed document was discovered. The earliest intact european book is a pocket gospel book, written in latin and currently housed at the british librarywhich bought it for. The story of the worlds earliest dated printed book.
Dec 20, 20 equally incorrect are websites whose claims are based on the premise that a book is a printed object. The buddhist text known as the diamond sutra is believed to be the oldest surviving printed book in the world. In english, shortened forms such as diamond sutra and vajra sutra are common. 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. Price translated into english around 50 pages of the diamond sutra republished by shambhala publishers, 1990. Restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra. The diamond sutra is one of the most revered texts of mahayana buddhism and a jewel of the world s religious literature. The diamond sutra is the worlds oldest dated printed book. The diamond sutra, the world s oldest surviving, dated, printed, book printed by wang jie and made into a scroll.
Prajna paramita heart sutra mantra with lyrics duration. Restoring the worlds oldest book, the diamond sutra at. Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest. May 11, 2016 thinking of the diamond sutra, the oldest printed book may 11, 2016 james ford patheos explore the world s faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality. Buddha channel best buddhism videos for buddhist 2,441,295 views. The diamond sutra is the worlds earliest dated printed book. The buddhist text known as the diamond sutra is believed to be the oldest. Today, that scroll is housed at the british library and is acknowledged as the oldest. The oldest known printed book in the world 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.
The diamond sutra has the colophon at the inner end that reads. Sep 17, 2012 the copy of diamond sutra worlds oldest known dated printed book. In the lower lefthand corner of the illustration can be found the buddhas disciple subhuti, listening to buddha presenting the diamond sutra. Conserving the diamond sutra, idpukvideo published on 31 jan 20. 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. Sep 27, 2018 the diamond sutra is one of the most revered texts of mahayana buddhism. It was found in a holy site called the mogao or peerless caves or the caves of a thousand buddhas, which was a. British library, 2010 isbn 9780712350907 van schaik 201112. Thinking of the diamond sutra, the oldest printed book may 11, 2016 james ford patheos explore the worlds faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality. Image from the unique copy of the diamond sutra preserved in the british library. The diamond sutra is the worlds oldest known printed book. The diamond sutra is the worlds oldest dated printed book may 16, 2016 by realtorpegsandiego printed over 1,100 years ago, a chinese copy of the diamond sutra at the british library is one of the most intriguing documents in the world.
Romanized sanskrit and devanagari of the diamond sutra in the digital sanskrit buddhist canon. Sep 12, 2012 for dharma practitioners, the fact that the diamond sutra is the worlds oldest book should matter mostly to historians. A shorter, reconstructed version of the sutra claimed to be closer to the original. In 1475 englishman william caxton produced the first book printed in english, the recuyell of the historyes of troye. The first is notable for being the oldest book in the world with a front cover still attached to it. The diamond sutra is the worlds oldest printed book. Jul 01, 2011 it was a narrative nonfiction about hungarianbritish explorer sir aurel stein and his now famous discovery of the diamond sutra the world s oldest printed book a woodblock printed source from the 8th century and a secret library of buddhist texts that he discovered in dunhuang, china in 1911. 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 is particularly prominent within the chan. A chinese version of a key text in the mahayana buddhist tradition, this diamond 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. The diamond sutra project is a notforprofit endeavour aimed at furthering the life work of william gemmell 18711947. It was produced on the 11 may 868, according to the western calendar. The diamond sutra project gutenberg selfpublishing.
The story of the worlds earliest dated printed book frances wood. A copy of the mahayana buddhism sacred text called the diamond sutra is the worlds earliest complete example of a dated printed book. It was a narrative nonfiction about hungarianbritish explorer sir aurel stein and his now famous discovery of the diamond sutra the worlds oldest printed book a woodblock printed source from the 8th century and a secret library of buddhist texts that he discovered in dunhuang, china in 1911. It is, in the words of the british library, the earliest complete survival of a dated printed book. Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds. The buddhist text is a meditation upon the detachment necessary for transcendent wisdom. Frances wood is head of the chinese section at the british library. On may 11, 868, the diamond sutra was published in northern china this priceless religious teaching survives as the oldest dated, printed book. Background of the diamond sutra diamond sutra a new. Written in chinese and featuring an illustrated frontispiece, the woodblock printed scroll is fivemetres long and dated 868ad. 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. English translation, by chung tai translation committee.
The worlds oldest dated book, the diamond sutra, was published by wang jie on behalf of his parents on the fifteenth of the fourth moon of the ninth year of xian long this day in 868. The document was discovered in the mogao caves of dunhuang, china in the beginning of the 20th century by a taoist priest and dates back to 868 ad. Ten of the oldest everyday items ever found ancient origins. The world s oldest dated book, the diamond sutra, was published by wang jie on behalf of his parents on the fifteenth of the fourth moon of the ninth year of xian long this day in 868. The diamond sutra, the worlds oldest surviving, dated, printed, book printed by wang jie and made into a scroll. The diamond sutra, the earliest surviving dated complete printed book. Vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra is a mahayana buddhist. A typical english translation contains about 6,000 words, and an average reader could finish it in less than 30 minutes, easily. 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. A desert explorer, buddhas secret library, and the unearthing of the worlds oldest printed book. Restoring the world s oldest book, the diamond sutra.
British library, 2010 isbn 9780712350907 friedrich max muller, ed. 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 a fascinating story how aurel stein discovered the diamond sutra and many many more ancient scrolls, and silks, and murals. Here are key moments in the history and evolution of publishing. 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. Thinking of the diamond sutra, the oldest printed book. What the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest printed book. 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. On may 11, 868, the oldest complete, printed and dated book to have survived known as diamond sutra was printed by a chinese named wang jie. Also known by its sanskrit title vajracchedika, the diamond sutra posits that something is what it is only because of what it is not. Found in the tomb of saint cuthbert in the northeast of england where it was notably saved from various viking invasions by being kept in durham cathedral, it. See more ideas about books, buddhism and mahayana buddhism. This printed book also has a beautifully illustrated front piece.
Jan 31, 20 the british library recently completed a decadelong project to conserve the oldest dated printed book in the work, a scroll copy in chinese of the buddhist text, the diamond sutra from the silk. 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. Among the manuscripts was perhaps the oldest printed book actually a scroll in existence, the diamond sutra, dated 868. This book is an excellent look at the diamond sutra at the british library, the oldest dated printed book. The sutra, which meditates on the illusory nature of the material world the central theme of buddhism, was originally written in sanskrit in india, from which it was translated to chinese in 401 ad. 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. Few venture that the answer is a revered buddhist text called the diamond sutra, printed in 868 a. 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. Did you know the diamond sutra, the worlds earliest dated printed book, is in the british library.
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. What the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest printed book, has. In 1907, archaeologist sir marc aurel stein discovered the diamond sutra, a 16foot scroll containing the chinese translation of the sanskrit buddhist text, from the caves of the thousand buddhas in dunhuang, china the discovery in itself is fascinating, but thats a different story. The diamond sutra of 868 now lives at the british library, whose turning the pages project includes close looks online at the world s oldest printed book. It is an important buddhist text that has a long and profound history. The diamond sutra, the earliest surviving dated complete printed. The very first printed book the diamond sutra scihi. The diamond sutra is an ancient buddhist sermon that generation of buddhists have memorized and chanted since at least the fifth century. The copy of diamond sutra worlds oldest known dated printed book. Diamond sutra a new translation of the classic buddhist text. Incidently, the diamond sutra has turned out to be the oldest printed book in the world, predating guttenberg by many many centuries. What is considered the oldest book ever written in the.
The link below is to an article about the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest surviving book, which was printed on the 11 may, 868. 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. British library, 2010 isbn 9780712350907 joyce morgan and conrad walters, journeys on the silk road. The diamond sutra, as described by the british library, is the worlds earliest complete survival of a dated printed book.
The diamond sutra is one of the most influential mahayana sutras in east asia, and is a key object of devotion and study in zen buddhism. The project team is led by williams grandson william b. The diamond sutra now resides at the british library, along with an acknowledgement that it is the oldest dated printed book in existence. The frontispiece of the diamond sutra from tang dynasty china, the worlds earliest dated printed book, ad 868 british museum 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 oldest complete printed and dated book is a buddhist text known as the diamond sutra, a name apparently suggested by the buddha himself, as the text is designed to cut like a diamond blade through worldly illusion to illuminate what is real and everlasting. Due to the fairly medieval style of its illustrations, it was long thought to have been made. 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 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.
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. The frontispiece depicts the buddha, surrounded by monks, devotees and deities. The complexity of chinese and korean symbols creates a major stumbling block to the process. The diamond sutra is one of the most revered texts of mahayana buddhism. This copy of the diamond sutra in chinese language, complete with a beautifully illustrated frontispiece, is the world s earliest dated, printed book. The extraordinary discovery of the worlds oldest book posted. A chinese version of the diamond sutra is the worlds oldest printed book, dating from may 868. 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 worlds oldest book the link below is to an article about the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest surviving book, which was printed on the 11 may, 868. The oldest printed text in the world the diamond sutra.
The story of the world s earliest dated printed book. A typical english translation contains about 6,000 words, and an average reader. This book is an excellent look at the diamond sutra at the british library, the oldest. What is considered the oldest book ever written in the world. A desert explorer, buddhas secret library, and the unearthing of the worlds oldest printed book morgan, joyce, walters, conrad on. It is made up of seven pages of paper pasted into a roll just over five metres long. 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. So you should view this fleeting world a star at dawn, a bubble in a stream, a flash of lightening in a summer cloud, a flickering lamp, a phantom, and a dream. Equally incorrect are websites whose claims are based on the premise that a book is a printed object. Printed copy of the diamond sutra the british library.