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.