Goryeo-era transcribed Buddhist scripture unveiled after return from Japan

The sixth volume of Saddharmapundarika Sutra (Lotus Sutra) [CULTURAL HERITAGE ADMINISTRATION]

The Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) unveiled on Thursday a Goryeo-era transcribed manuscript of a Buddhist scripture known as Saddharmapundarika Sutra (Lotus Sutra), which recently returned to Korea from Japan. The manuscript is Vol. 6 of the Lotus Sutra. In Korea, the version of Louts Sutra commonly circulated was in seven volumes and 28 chapters, translated into Chinese by an Indian monk named Kumarajiva (344-413) during the later Qin period (384-417). During the time, such sutras were hand-copied in an attempt to propagate the Buddhist doctrine, but they came to be considered a means to practice good deeds through sutra transcription.

The retrieved manuscript is also carefully hand-copied on indigo paper using gold and silver paints “probably by a renowned monk with excellent skills,” according to Bae Young-il, director of the Seongbo Museum in Magok Temple in South Chungcheong. It is made in the form of a folding screen. When unfolded, it measures about 10 meters (32.8 feet) long.

According to the CHA, its existence became known a year ago in June 2022 when its previous owner expressed an intention to sell it to the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation.

“Because the foundation’s office in Japan is quite well known to purchase Korean cultural assets overseas, the Japanese person contacted us first saying that he wanted to sell the manuscript he had purchased in a private antique auction in 2012,” said an official from the foundation.

“As a Buddhist cultural heritage of outstanding religious and artistic value, we hope to use the retrieved manuscript, along with others we already have, for various research and exhibitions,” said Choi Eung-chon, head of the CHA. “It’s amazing to see how well such a manuscript that is over 700 years old has been preserved.”

According to Bae, the Lotus Sutra “centers on the fundamental principle that all beings have the potential to become Buddhas.” The sixth volume especially emphasizes the significance of the transmission of the Lotus Sutra and the practice of making offerings. The 23rd chapter in the sixth volume states that the Lotus Sutra is the foremost among the Buddhist sutras and that “If one transcribes the sutra after hearing it or sponsors another person do it, they are doing a good deed, which is so infinite that it cannot be fathomed even by the wisdom of the Buddha.”

The existence of an illustration on the back, which “visually summarizes the Lotus Sutra,” over four pages, is also significant, says Bae as it does not exist in all manuscripts. Another Lotus Sutra Vol. 6 in collection of the Horim Museum also has the illustration and is designated as the National Treasure.

Choi said that Buddhist sutras have somewhat been neglected compared to other Buddhist relics and that this could be an opportunity to shed light on the beauty of Goryeo sutras.
Stressing that there are about 60 more Buddhist sutras outside the country, Choi said that the CHA and the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation will continue to make efforts to retrieve cultural heritages through active administration and expansion of overseas network and cooperation.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]