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Throughout history, sacred texts have played a vital role in shaping religious and philosophical thought. Among them, the ‘Diamond Sutra’ stands out—not only for its deep spiritual teachings but also for its groundbreaking contribution to the history of printed books.
This ancient Buddhist scripture dates back over a thousand years and represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of knowledge-sharing and technological innovation. Its existence proves that sophisticated printing techniques were in use centuries before the invention of the printing press in Europe.
But what makes the 'Diamond Sutra' so unique? Who was responsible for its creation, and why was it printed in the first place? Click through this gallery to find out.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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The oldest printed book in the world
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LIFESTYLE History
Throughout history, sacred texts have played a vital role in shaping religious and philosophical thought. Among them, the ‘Diamond Sutra’ stands out—not only for its deep spiritual teachings but also for its groundbreaking contribution to the history of printed books.
This ancient Buddhist scripture dates back over a thousand years and represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of knowledge-sharing and technological innovation. Its existence proves that sophisticated printing techniques were in use centuries before the invention of the printing press in Europe.
But what makes the 'Diamond Sutra' so unique? Who was responsible for its creation, and why was it printed in the first place? Click through this gallery to find out.