Frontispiece of the Commentary on the Diamond Sutra

CHINA; Yuan dynasty

This frontispiece for the Commentary on the Diamond Sutra was made in 1340 of the Yuan dynasty. The sutra was printed from woodblocks using both red and black ink, making it one of the oldest color woodblock prints in China, second only to the one discovered in Fogong Temple in Shanxi. The commentary states that the translator of the sutra was Kumarajiva, and that Crown Prince Zhaoming of the Liang dynasty organized the content.
In the center, a monk is seated at a table, writing sutra calligraphy. Candles, vases, and an incense burner are placed on an altar in front of the table. A young disciple stands on the left, grinding ink. In the bottom right corner, a devotee with a beard, wearing a head scarf and a wide sleeved robe, stands with his palms joined. There are unique curving clouds of smoke behind the monk’s chair. Part of a pine tree can be seen at the top of the artwork.