Silk Manuscripts of Buddhist Sutras

Timeline

1. c. 650–700Chang'an · ChinaIn the early Tang, the tradition of writing Buddhist sutras on silk dating from the Northern Dynasties continued; the imperial court and nobility commissioned silk sutra copies as meritorious offerings, advancing manuscript craft and binding forms.
2. c. 701–755Mogao Caves, Dunhuang · Hexi CorridorLarge numbers of Tang-dynasty silk Buddhist manuscripts were unearthed from the Library Cave and cave remains at Dunhuang, covering Mahayana scriptures and reflecting the prosperity of copying, circulating, and dedicating Buddhist texts along the Silk Road.
3. c. 756–800East Asian Buddhist circulation network · East AsiaSilk manuscripts traveled as precious gifts with imperial envoys and monks, promoting the spread of Chinese-language Buddhist sutras in Japan and the Korean Peninsula; the silk medium symbolized religious devotion and political courtesy.