|
The world's oldest surviving wood block print, this Buddhist sutra is 6.7 cm wide,
6.228 m long and weighs 65.2 g/m2. Average thickness is 0.080 mm and its density is
0.815 g/cm3. Da Ra Ni is understood to hold mystical power of Buddha.
As a medium for furthering one's pursuit of enlightenment, the recitation of Da Ra Ni
is believed to bring remission of a sin, spritual merit and ensure a long life.
When it was found in 1966 inside a pagoda of Bul Kuk Sa, a Buddhist
temple in Gyung Sang province of Korea, scholars were stunned by the longevity
of Hanji.
The scroll, printed on Dak
(Korean paper mulberry), was intact except
for small areas of moth damage on the backside. However, the silk wrapped around
the scroll was so decayed that it had to be observed under a microscope before
being identified as silk.
Research into this print revealed the level of sophistication in papermaking
techniques of that time. In particular, the use of natural formation aid to
flow the fiber mixture across the screen and Dochim treatment are proven to
be highly innovative.
|
|