Patriarch Yin Kuang's Theory Of Buddhist Sutra Handwriting

The Buddhist sutra is the Buddha's spiritual heritage,one of the three treasures of the living world(Buddha,Dharma,Sangha).In the history of Buddhist cult ure,Buddhist sutra handwriting is not only a way of sutra's circulation,but also one of the approaches of practice.Exquisite sutras are the treasure of calligraphy.Before the invention of printing,the circulation of Buddhist sutras relied mainly on ha ndwriting.The purpose of sutras handwriting was liberated from the circulation and changed into practice and the fine arts when the printing was developed.However,Buddhist dharma is generally a way to get rid of annoyance in the world.Buddhist sutras handwriting,after all,is different from the writing of the living world matters and has its own specific spiritual connotations and corresponding precepts,that is,its due attitude and attention.Contrary to these,to write Buddhist sutras,is not only difficult to obtain merit,but will lead to guilt.If you leave these,and only conduct academic research on the objectification of sutra handwriting,it is just like scratch the surface.As the most influential Buddhist monk in the past 300 years,the Patriarch Yin K uang had a sense of the chaos of the people's mind in the living world and began to promote the Dharma with script.In his written letters,he explained the correct method of practicing to make up for deviation and salvation to save people a nd promote the Dharma in the living world.He won the worship between both monks and common people because of his highly moral and profound Buddhist practice.He was recommended as the head of the four greatest monks in the Republic of China and the 13 th a ncestor of Pure Land.He was not only a great monk,but also a model in Buddhist sutras handwriting.Especially,his guidance to Master Hong Yi were of great significance for studying modern sutra handwriting calligraphy art.In the book The Analects of Patriarch Yin Kuang,he pointed out specific instructions on the merits and virtues of Buddhist sutra,attitude of sutra handwriting,ethos of the times and literati in sutra handwriting,writing of sutra in blood,etc.This book is instructive to appreciate,understand and study the calligraphy works of Buddhist sutra written in the past dynasties,which could help us correctly understand the art of Buddhist sutra handwriting.This paper is intended to cover the scope of the Buddhist sutra written by the Patriarch Yin Kuang,expounds the issues existing in modern Buddhist sutra handwriting and the ways to solve them,as well as the influence of the Patriarch Yin K uang on the art of modern Buddhist sutra handwriting.In this paper,I explore from seven aspects : merits of sutra handwriting,respect of the sutra,criticism of the ethos of the times,advice to respect words and papers,ancient moral,non-literati habits of sutra handwriting,and writing of the sutra in the blood.