© Getty Images

Buddhism in ancient India -

Buddhism began in ancient India in the 5th to 4th centuries BCE with the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, later known as the Buddha. Born in present-day Nepal, he attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, India, and began spreading his philosophy of liberation from suffering.

© Shutterstock

Spread -

After Buddha’s death, Buddhism spread across India through monastic communities and royal patronage. But much of the global religion’s growth lay in the foundation of its scriptures and texts, which is where the ‘Diamond Sutra’ becomes important.

© Getty Images

A book of wonder -

The ‘Diamond Sutra’ was printed in 868 CE, and is the oldest known printed book with a verifiable date. This Buddhist text is an astounding example of how religion, culture, and technological innovation came together in ancient Asia.

© Getty Images

Predating by centuries - The famous Gutenberg Bible, printed by Johannes Gutenberg in Germany, was the first major book produced using movable type printing. But even this achievement arrived almost 600 years after the printing of the ‘Diamond Sutra.’

© Getty Images

A lengthy scroll -

The sacred text is technically considered a scroll more than a book, since it is made up of seven sheets of paper glued together into one piece that stretches about 16 feet (4.9 meters) long.

© Public Domain

A conversation -

The 'Diamond Sutra' is presented as a dialogue between the Buddha and the monk Subhūti, one of his principal disciples (pictured). Through their exchange, the Buddha expounds on the nature of reality, perception, and the illusory nature of the self.

© Public Domain

A fundamental text -

The book is part of the 'Perfection of Wisdom' scriptures in Buddhism, and is a core Mahayana Buddhist text that teaches the philosophy of impermanence and emptiness. It also offers guidance to those seeking enlightenment.

© Getty Images

Mahayana -

Mahayana (meaning “Great Vehicle”) is one of three major branches of Buddhism. It emphasizes universal compassion and the pursuit of enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, rather than individual liberation.

© Getty Images

In the name -

The ‘Diamond Sutra’ derives its name from the Sanskrit title Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra, which means “The Diamond That Cuts Through Illusion.” The “diamond” symbolizes unbreakable wisdom, capable of cutting through ignorance to reveal ultimate truth and enlightenment.

© Getty Images

A short text -

The 'Diamond Sutra' is relatively short compared to other Buddhist scriptures, and consists of around 6,000 Chinese characters (which equates to approximately 5,000 words in English). Interestingly, it isn’t the shortest Buddhist text, since the ‘Heart Sutra’ (another piece of profound scripture, pictured) contains only 260 Chinese characters.

© Getty Images

Origins -

Though the ‘Diamond Sutra’ was written between the 2nd century BCE and the 3rd century CE, its teachings originated from the historical Buddha. His lessons were initially preserved through oral transmission before eventually being written down to ensure their longevity across generations.

© Getty Images

From oral tradition to written scripture -

For centuries, Buddhist monks memorized and passed down the Buddha’s teachings orally. As Buddhism spread and evolved into different sects, monks began compiling these teachings into written texts.

© Getty Images

A key part -

The ‘Diamond Sutra’ emphasizes the philosophy of sunyata (emptiness) and the transient nature of existence, a central idea in Mahayana Buddhism that challenges conventional understandings of self and reality.

© Public Domain

Chinese translation -

The most authoritative translation of the ‘Diamond Sutra’ was completed in the early 400s by Kumārajīva, a revered translator. His version prioritizes meaning over literal accuracy, and it has become the most widely studied and referenced version in Buddhist scholarship today.

© Getty Images

Translations across Asia -

The ‘Diamond Sutra’ was translated into several languages, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tibetan, Mongolian, and Vietnamese. These translations enabled its teachings to spread across Asia and profoundly shape Buddhist traditions in different cultures.

© Getty Images

Discovery -

In 1900, a Taoist monk named Wang Yuanlu discovered a complete printed copy of the ‘Diamond Sutra’ in the Mogao Caves of Dunhuang, China. This discovery confirmed it as the world’s oldest surviving printed book with a known publication date.

© Getty Images

Controversial removal -

Years after the book was discovered, British-Hungarian archaeologist Marc Aurel Stein bribed Yuanlu and smuggled away thousands of documents from the caves, including the 'Diamond Sutra.' His actions were later condemned by Chinese nationalists.

© Getty Images

A question of why -

The 'Diamond Sutra' was likely printed for religious and cultural reasons. During the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE), Buddhism flourished, and various printed texts were distributed to spread its teachings. The book was also an example of China’s advancements in early printing technology.

© Getty Images

Dedication and purpose -

Wang Jie, the man who commissioned the sutra’s printing, dedicated it for universal distribution. His act reflected Buddhist values of generosity and devotion, as well as loving piety, since he printed the text to honor his parents and benefit others spiritually.

© Getty Images

Zen Buddhism -

The ‘Diamond Sutra’ had a major influence on Zen Buddhism, which emphasizes meditation and mindfulness in life. The Zen master Dajian Huineng is said to have achieved sudden enlightenment after hearing an extract of the sutra spoken to him. This led to his role in shaping the Zen tradition.

© Public Domain

Religious merit -

Buddhism teaches that spreading sacred teachings brings spiritual merit. Printing and distributing the ‘Diamond Sutra’ was seen as an act of great religious significance, and it reinforced the idea that wisdom should be shared selflessly for the benefit of all beings.

© Public Domain

Woodblock printing -

The ‘Diamond Sutra’ was produced using woodblock printing, the earliest known printing method. The process involved carving characters into wooden blocks, inking them, and then pressing them onto paper.

© Getty Images

Carving the blocks -

Artisans carefully carved the sutra’s text into wooden blocks, ensuring that the characters remained raised while the surrounding areas were carved away. This technique allowed for ink application and repeated printing while maintaining precision in each copy.

© Getty Images

The inking process -

Once carved, the raised surfaces of the wooden blocks were coated with ink so that only the intended text or images would transfer onto the paper. This method of printing was used well until the 19th century.

© Getty Images

Pressing onto paper -

The final step in the printing process involved pressing the inked wooden blocks onto sheets of mulberry paper, a traditional material widely used in Chinese printing and calligraphy. This type of paper was created from the fibers of the mulberry tree, which made it durable and lightweight.

© Getty Images

Frontispiece illustration -

The printed sutra featured an elaborate frontispiece (inside the book and facing the title page) with a detailed illustration of the Buddha surrounded by his disciples.

© Public Domain

English considerations -

The earliest English translation of the ‘Diamond Sutra’ was completed in 1894 by Max Müller, a German-born Orientalist. The translation was published through Oxford University Press, and introduced Western audiences to the text’s profound Buddhist philosophy.

© Public Domain

Viewing the sacred book -

Bibliophiles hoping to lay eyes on a surviving copy of the ‘Diamond Sutra’ would do well to travel to the British Library in London. The library’s shop even offers visitors the opportunity to take home a print of the book’s frontispiece illustration.

© Getty Images

A testament to human ingenuity -

Apart from being a profound religious text, the ‘Diamond Sutra’ is truly a testament to human creativity and intellectual progress. It continues to be studied worldwide, and its message of impermanence, wisdom, and compassion will likely echo into the future.

Sources: (TheCollector) (Britannica) (Smithsonian Magazine)

See also: The longest novels ever written

© Getty Images