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Source Description
This illuminated manuscript presents one part of the multivolume sacred text titled <em>Avatamsaka </em>(Flower Garland) sutra. Both the script and the image are rendered in gold ink on the smooth surface of the dark blue, indigo-dyed mulberry paper. This portion of the text, which reads from right to left, describes the encounter of the Buddha of the Future (Maitreya) and the young pilgrim Sudhana. The Buddha gives his words of wisdom to Sudhana, who asks questions about the path toward spiritual awakening. <br><br>Mixed with ink and glue, the gold has a brilliance that strikingly reflects Sudhana’s ardent quest for understanding the way to reach enlightenment.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
157392
label
Avatamsaka Sutra No. 78
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
157392
contentType
object
title
Avatamsaka Sutra No. 78
description
This illuminated manuscript presents one part of the multivolume sacred text titled <em>Avatamsaka </em>(Flower Garland) sutra. Both the script and the image are rendered in gold ink on the smooth surface of the dark blue, indigo-dyed mulberry paper. This portion of the text, which reads from right to left, describes the encounter of the Buddha of the Future (Maitreya) and the young pilgrim Sudhana. The Buddha gives his words of wisdom to Sudhana, who asks questions about the path toward spiritual awakening. <br><br>Mixed with ink and glue, the gold has a brilliance that strikingly reflects Sudhana’s ardent quest for understanding the way to reach enlightenment.
date
1300s
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q79973613
genreSpecific
Bound Volume
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Book: 20.6 x 43.7 cm (8 1/8 x 17 3/16 in.); Each page: 20.7 x 11 cm (8 1/8 x 4 5/16 in.)
cul
Korea, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)
accession
1994.25
Source extras
tec
Folded book with illustrated frontispiece; gold and silver on mulberry paper
tombstone
Avatamsaka Sutra No. 78 (대방광불화엄경 권제78 [大方廣佛華嚴經 卷第七十八]), 1300s. Korea, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392). Folded book with illustrated frontispiece; gold and silver on mulberry paper; book: 20.6 x 43.7 cm (8 1/8 x 17 3/16 in.); each page: 20.7 x 11 cm (8 1/8 x 4 5/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund, 1994.25
titleInOriginalLanguage
대방광불화엄경 권제78 [大方廣佛華嚴經 卷第七十八]
collection
Korean Art
inscriptions
inscription_translation
Thus Maitreya, seeing Sudhana arrive, imbued with virtues, in the realm of non-obstruction, revealed him to the assembly, speaking of his treasury of qualities. Sudhana, hearing such supreme direction and instruction, was flooded with joy and burst into tears. His hair stood on end and he sighed with delight. He rose and paid his respects to Maitreya. Then, by the mental power of Manjushri, there appeared in his hands beautiful flower garlands and jewels, produced by the vows of enlightening beings; blissfully, Sudhana showered these on Maitreya. Then Maitreya patted him on the head and said, "It is good that you are so indefatigable, Sudhana; you will be a vessel of virtues, like Manjushri and me."
didYouKnow
The pristine condition of this manuscript indicates that it was rarely used after its creation, revealing that the act of making a manuscript rather than reading it was the main religious goal.
citations
citation
Lee, Ji Kwan. "Position of the Avatamsaka - sutra in Korean Buddhism [한국불교에 있어 화엄경의 위치: 각판유통을 (刻板流通) 중심으로]." <em>Bulgyohakbo </em>20 (September 1983): 11-43.
citation
Hwang, Su-young. “A Study on Goryeo Buddhist Sutra [高麗寫經의 硏究].” <em>Gogo misul </em>(1988): 51-67.
citation
Cunningham, Michael R., "Reflective Golden Brushwork."<em> The Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine </em>(1995, Summer): 8-9.
citation
Cunningham, Michael R., "Reflective Golden Brushwork", Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Cleveland Art: The Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine</em>. Vol. 35 no. 06, Summer 1995
page_number
Mentioned & reproduced: p. 8
citation
Cunningham, Michael R., "Sacred Metalwork of Korea", Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Cleveland Art: The Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine</em>. Vol. 43 no. 05, May 2003
page_number
Mentioned & reproduced: p. 8-9
citation
<em>Goryeo Dynasty: Korea's Age of Enlightenment, 918-1392</em>. San Francisco: Asian Art Museum, 2003.
page_number
Reproduced: p.128, fig.36
citation
Kwon, Hi-Kyung. "Style Analysis of Byunsangwha of the Scripts of Sutras for Personnal Praying in Late Koryo Dynasty [고려후기 개인발원 고려사경 변상화의 양식분석]." <em>Journal of Studies in Bibliography</em> 31 (September 2005): 153-200.
citation
Farthing, Stephen. <em>Art: From Cave Painting to Street Art</em>. New York: Universe, 2010.
page_number
Reproduced: p.104, fig.1
citation
Pak, Do-hwa. “Dr. Hwang Soo‐yeong’s Study on Sutra Copying and Its Meanings: Rediscovery of Sutra Copying from New Research Perspectives [黃壽永博士의 寫經 연구와 의의 - 사경의 재발견과 새로운 연구 시각].” <em>Kangjwa misulsa</em> (2014): 319–342.
citation
McBride, Richard D. "Koryŏ Buddhist Paintings and the Cult of Amitābha: Visions of a Hwaŏm-Inspired Pure Land." <em>Journal of Korean Religions</em> 6, no. 1 (2015): 93-130.
citation
<em>Goryeo: The Glory of Korea </em>[대고려, 그 찬란한 도전]. Seoul: National Museum of Korea, 2018.
citation
Ch'a, Mi-rae, Kwi-suk An, Cleveland Museum of Art, and 국외소재문화재재단. <em>The Korean Collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art</em>. Edited by An Min-hŭi. First edition, English ed. Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Series, 16. Seoul, Republic of Korea: Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, 2021.
page_number
Mentioned and reproduced: p. 148-153, no. 101
citation
Kim, Jongmin. "Exquisite Goryeo Manuscript; <em>Avatamsaka Sutra No. 78</em> in the Cleveland Museum of Art." In <em>The Korean Collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art</em>. Ch'a, Mi-rae, Kwi-suk An, Cleveland Museum of Art, 국외소재문화재재단, and An Min-hŭi, ed., 260-273. First edition, English ed. Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Series, 16. Seoul, Republic of Korea: Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, 2021.
page_number
Mentioned and reproduced: p. 260-273
citation
"Recommendations from Our Curators.” <em>Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine </em>61, no. 2 (Spring 2021): 32.
page_number
Reproduced and Mentioned: P. 32.
creditline
The Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
updatedAt
2026-06-18 15:02:37.428000
sourceId
157392
dept
Korean Art
coll
Korean Art
med
Folded book with illustrated frontispiece; gold and silver on mulberry paper
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
f4459f75ccfcbb2c