Translator: Xuanzang (唐) 玄奘 (Japanese: Genjō), Chinese monk, 602-64. Imprint: [Nara, Kōfukuji] , Karoku 3, 1227. Kanki (printed at end of maki 34 only) reads: 爲先師成遍出離解脱門弟合力敬奉彫當巻模畢 ／ 于時嘉禄三年丁亥二月九日釋永全記之. Description: 2 kan, 2 rolls (kansubon 巻子本), in wooden box. Maki 34: 845 x 24.2 cm. Maki 537: 842 × 24.2 cm. Blockprint. Printing frame (height) : maki 34, 20.7 cm; maki 537, 20.5 cm. No borders. No rules between columns. Kanbun text without reading marks. 17 characters to line. Mid-brown end covers not original but taken from another early manuscript or printed copy of the Daihannyakyō and re-used. Rollers with crystal ends also renewed. Text printed on thick, good quality kōzo paper, dyed yellow. Edition: Kasuga-ban, printed at the Kōfukuji, Nara. Two rolls from the celebrated Karoku-ban 嘉祿版, the earliest complete printing of this sutra (600 kan in total), and the largest-scale publishing venture of the Kamakura period. Of the surviving volumes of this edition, fewer than 20 bear a clear date of printing; among them, kan 34, 35, 46, 53 and 100 have printed dates ranging from Jōō 2 貞応二年 (1223) to Karoku 3 (1227). This Karoku-ban is a fine example of early Japanese printing, using jet-black ink on high quality yellow paper. It established a standard text for the Daihannyakyō, which was to remain definitive for many centuries. Contents: Chinese translation of the Mahāprajñā-pāramitā-sūtra, the 'Perfection of Wisdom in 600 chapters'. Chapters 34 and 537 only.
Daihannya haramittakyō, kan dai-34, 537 大般若波羅蜜多經巻第三十四・五百三十七 [大般若波羅蜜多経巻第三十四・五百三十七]
This material is held atBritish Library Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections
- Reference
- GB 59 Or.64.b.6
- Dates of Creation
- 1227
- Language of Material
- Japanese
- Physical Description
- 2 scrolls Condition: Very good. Worm damage extensive, but both rolls have been rebacked throughout by urauchi. Impression: Slightly atozuri, but the impression is still sharp and clear. Seals of ownership: Red oblong seal, Hōrei bunko 寶玲文庫 (seal of Frank Hawley) at head of text of each roll.
Scope and Content
Access Information
Not Public Record(s)
Unrestricted
Acquisition Information
Acquired from Kōbunsō, 1974.
Other Finding Aids
Kenneth Gardner, Descriptive Catalogue of Japanese books in the British Library printed before 1700 (London and Tenri, 1993). B. Buddhist works 仏書 2. Basic mahayana scriptures 主要大乗経典
Bibliography
Bussho kaisetsu daijiten 仏書解説大辞典, vol. 7, pp. 431-3; Butten kaidai daijiten 仏典解題事典, p. 78; Nara kangyōshi 寧楽刊経史, pp. 161-4; Kōbunsō kohanpon mokuroku 弘文荘古版本目録, p. 14.