Samantapasadika

CHINA; Tang dynasty

Guo Quan was a sutra copyist during the rule of Emperor Taizong (reigned 626–649) of the Tang dynasty. This manuscript was produced by decree and consists of 275 lines with 17 characters each. It is titled at the end of the scroll. Fortunately this piece carried a rare postscript that states the copyist as Guo Quan, as well as Zhao Mo, Yan Liben, and others as supervisors and proofreaders. The Samantapasadika is a commentary on the vinaya of Southern Buddhism.
Sutra transcription was popularized during the Southern and Northern Dynasties (386–589). The maturing of regular script during the Tang dynasty marked a historical shift in the script adopted for engraving on monumental stele inscriptions. The characters in this manuscript, are spaciously configured with a neat and balanced form, and strokes are elegant and vigorous while being skillfully executed. This is a classic example of regular script from the Early Tang period (618–712).