Name/TitlePrinted dharani scroll and miniature stupa, Seogka stupa reliquary, NT 126-6

About this objectBuddhist books were brought from the Chinese mainland in the form of manuscript paper scrolls in Literary Sinitic. Woodblock printing was being developed during this period in China and was used in Korean and Japan from at least the 8th century. This is the earliest known examples in Korea, a miniature scroll, printed with a Buddhist text. The text is a copy of the Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī Sūtra (佛頂尊勝陀羅尼經) which had been translated from Sanskrit into Literary Sinitic in 704. It contains forms of writing Chinese characters that were introduced from the reign of Empress Wu Zetian (r. 690–705) in Tang China. The printed scroll was found inside Seokga stupa in Bulguksa Temple. Originally thought to have been built around 751, an inscription found on a nearby śarīra relic indicates that the scroll was enshrined at the same time as the reliquary, dating it as far back as 706.

Date MadeEarly 8th century

PeriodUnified Silla

Place MadeKorea

Subject and Association KeywordsBooks

Subject and Association KeywordsRelics

Subject and Association DescriptionLearn More: ______.

Medium and MaterialsInk on paper.

TechniqueWoodblock printed

Measurements6.5 x 642 cm.

Credit LineCultural Heritage Administration

Object numberEXH88: Korea NT 126-6