Search Buddhist Channel
Ancient Buddhist scripture discovered in rural Beijing
By Wu Jin, China.org.cn, September 26, 2016
Beijing, China -- The earliest preserved edition of the "Heart Sutra" – a Buddhist scripture translated by the famous Monk Xuanzang, known for his fictional role in the classic novel "Journey to the West" – was recently discovered on a stele in Beijing's rural Fangshan District.
<< A copy of "Heart Sutra" translated by Monk Xuanzang from the stone inscription marks the value of the stele chiseled more than 1,300 years ago in Beijing's Rural Fangshan District. [file photo]Extending its influence over China and East Asia, the sutra has many interpretations, of which the edition translated by Xuanzang was one of the most credible.
The sutra was chiseled on the stele in 661, three years after the Monk’s demise and was passed down and preserved at the Buddhist temple in rural Beijing.
The massive carving of the Buddhist sutras on steles in Beijing was initiated by Monk Jingwan, who worried about the prospect of Buddhism due to anti-Buddhism mania in North Wei (386-557) and North Zhou (557-581) and so preserved the sutras on stone in Fangshan amid Sui Dynasty (581-618).
Following their predecessor’s endeavor, Buddhist monks in the temple have inscribed 3,572 volumes of Buddhist sutras totaling more than 30 million words, ranking as one of today’s biggest and oldest stone libraries.
An Appeal
In deep gratitude for your support! We are half way to meeting our target (US$ 10,400 of US$ 18,000 already achieved)!
The Buddhist Channel is a dedicated group of "mindful communication practitioners" striving to make a positive impact on the Buddhist community. We deeply believe in the power of mindful journalism and are reaching out to you with a heartfelt request for your support. Your donation, no matter the size, can make a tangible difference in the lives of countless Buddhist monastics, local communities and other dedicated engaged workers. With your help, we make their stories known, and thereby opening up avenues for them to obtain sustainable support for their work.
Please indicate whether your support will be a donation or a loan. We will get back to you via email. We thank you in advance for providing us financial relieve. May the Buddha Dharma ever be your guide and protector.
Note: To date, we have received the following:
US$ 900 from Esa Myllykoski (donation)
US$ 9,500 from Lance Edwards/Kau Soo Kin (loan)
We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.
If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv