A Study On The Northern Song Woodblock Printed Golden Light Sutra

This study focuses on a well-preserved woodblock printed Golden Light Sutra dated 988 A.D. From the perspective of theme, style and technique, part one analyzes the four frontispieces at the beginning of this sutra, which leads to a conclusion that they might due to the comprehensive effect of tradition, taste and technique. Part two explores likely links between the sutra and the social condition of the early Song Dynasty-rituals of confession, belief of the pure land, rituals of the Esoteric doctrine and the phenomenon of laity buried in pagodas, which rationalizes this Golden Light Sutra as an object buried along the deceased.