China: Frontispiece, Diamond Sutra from Mogao Cave 17, Dunhuang, late Tang Dynasty, 868 CE

A page from the Diamond Sutra, printed in the 9th year of Xiantong Era of the Tang Dynasty, or 868 CE. The earliest complete examle a dated printed book, it was collected by Aurel Stein from the Mogao Caves, Dunhuang, Gansu, in 1907.

The Diamond Sūtra (Sanskrit: Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra) is a short and well-known Mahāyāna sūtra of the Prajñāpāramitā or 'Perfection of Wisdom' genre and emphasizes the practice of non-abiding and non-attachment. The title properly translated is the Diamond Cutter of Perfect Wisdom although it is usual to refer to it as the Diamond Sūtra.

A copy of the Chinese version of Diamond Sūtra found among the Dunhuang manuscripts in the early 20th century and dated back to 868 is in the words of the British Library, 'the earliest complete survival of a dated printed book'.

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Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

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