The Cultural Heritage Conservation Science Center completed conservation treatment of the Treasure Transcription of Shurangama Sutra (The Sutra of the Heroic One) in Silver on White Paper, Volume 10 (hereafter Transcription of Shurangama Sutra in Silver on White Paper).
The Transcription of Shurangama Sutra in Silver on White Paper is a transcription of Neungeomgyeong, or Shurangama Sutra, a Buddhist scriptures for monks in training, in silver pigment. The copy is the last of the 10 chapters of the Shurangama Sutra and currently chapters 1 through 9 are missing. At the end of the book, there is a record that it was made to pray for the late Yi Bang-han’s mother in 1365, clarifying the writer and the year produced. The book is 11.2 centimeters wide and 30.5 centimeters long and in accordion style binding, folded 57 times, and when unfolded, the width reaches 6.3 meters.
During this conservation process, it was newly found that the book was made of Baekji (white paper), specifically a type of Hanji (Korean paper) made from a paper mulberry through paper fiber analysis. The Cultural Heritage Conservation Science Center will publish a report in 2023 including details of the conservation treatment and research. The Transcription of Shurangama Sutra in Silver on White Paper after conservation treatment will be displayed at the Kyungpook National University Museum and available for the public next year.
