Greater Sutra of the Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom (Mahaprajnaparamita-sutra), 600 juan, from the Jin Tripitaka printed at Guangsheng Temple, Zhaocheng County

Jin dynasty (1115–1234), Huangtong period (1141–1148) through Dading period (1161–1189), printed between 1149 and 1173

Translated from the Sanskrit by Xuanzang (602–664)

From the Tripitaka deposited at Guangsheng Temple, Zhaocheng County, Shanxi Province

Handscroll containing juan 103, woodblock-printed ink on paper; 29.8 x 1320.0 cm; block size of illustrated frontispiece section: 26.1 x 38.7 cm; text section, height of blocks: 22.0 cm

Inventory number: 0070

This Buddhist sutra is part of the renowned Tripitaka printed during the Jin dynasty between 1149 and 1173.  The sole surviving set, it is not mentioned in any catalogues and was rediscovered only in the twentieth century.

This scroll contains juan 103 of the Mahaprajnaparamita-sutra, an enormous 600-juan systematic exposition of Mahayana Buddhist doctrine translated from the Sanskrit by the Tang pilgrim monk Xuanzang in 663.  The beginning of each juan, as in this example, is embellished with an illustrated frontispiece that shows the Buddha seated on a throne platform, a halo surrounding his head, preaching the law.  To the left and right are the Ten Disciples, one of whom faces the Buddha directly.  At upper left and lower right are two vajras (martial guardians) protecting the assembly.