Following an enthusiastic wave of preorders in 2017, we are proud to announce the official release of this classic edition of one of the most treasured scriptures of Chinese Buddhism!
Commonly known as the Diamond Sutra (金剛經), the Diamond Cutter Perfection of Wisdom Sutra (金剛般若波羅蜜經Jingang bore boluomi jing) is Kumarajiva’s Chinese translation from Sanskrit of the Vajracchedika-prajnaparamita-sutra, one of the most popular scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism. The Diamond Sutra is essentially an exposition on the doctrines of emptiness and dependent origination, for the purpose of cutting off attachment, realizing perfect wisdom, and crossing over the sea of tribulation. Thus in Buddhist circles this scripture is widely referred to as the “mother of wisdom.”
This new woodblock edition of the Diamond Sutra is a reproduction of the edition printed at the Zifu Monastery in Zhongxinglu during the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) and now part of the National Treasures Collection of the National Central Library in Taipei. This is the earliest surviving two-color woodblock print in the world and thus plays an important role in the history of printing.
Print typeWoodblock and woodcut
BindingHardcover with 200 folding pages
TranslatorKumarajiva, 403 CE
Subject headingsCrown Prince Zhaoming (Xiao Tong) of the Liang dynasty
AnnotationsMaster Wuwen Sicong
Subhuti, suppose a person were to make a donation of all the seven jewels in countless worlds, and that a noble man or woman who had given rise to the bodhisattva resolve were to memorize as little as a four-line verse of this sutra, contemplate it, recite it, and explain it to others. The latter’s merit would far exceed that of the former.
- The most widely read Chinese translation, reflecting Kumarajiva’s renowned ability to clearly convey the inner meaning of profound Buddhist scriptures.
- A masterful combination of text and illustration in black and red.
- Faithful reproductions of the original woodblocks printed on a traditional folding text.
Linking Publishing has been granted special authorization by the National Central Library to reproduce its woodblock edition of the Diamond Sutra, in order to make this classic scripture and its wisdom teachings more widely available.
