Mogao Cave 17: Frontispiece of the Diamond Sutra

CHINA, Gansu, Dunhuang; Tang dynasty

This frontispiece is part of a woodblock-printed sutra made from seven pieces of paper pasted onto a 5 m long scroll. An inscription at the end of the scroll states that it was made in 868, making it the world’s oldest dated printed book. The inscription also states that Wang Jie commissioned the printing of this sutra for wide circulation in dedication of his parents.
On the frontispiece, Sakyamuni Buddha is shown expounding the Diamond Sutra to Subhuti in Jetavana Monastery. Sakra, Bodhisattvas, heavenly beings, Dharma protectors, and disciples gather around to listen. The Buddha sits on a lotus throne behind an altar. He extends his right hand forward, and appears solemn. Elder Subhuti kneels before the altar with upturned eyes and palms joined in reverence, listening attentively to the Buddha. On the far left, the name “Subhuti” is written within a cartouche. The other figures are arranged in rows beside the Buddha. Apsaras fly through the sky beside a canopy at the top of the picture.
The first lines of text beside the frontispiece are the speech purification mantra and the invitation of the Dharma Protectors and Bodhisattvas. The image is detailed and clear, suggesting that Buddhist woodblock printing was already a well established practice when the sutra was produced.