Diamond Sutra (868 CE)
金刚经
The world's earliest complete dated printed book. The colophon names the donor, Wang Jie, and dates the printing to the 13th day of the 4th month, 9th year of the Xiantong reign — 11 May 868 — almost 600 years before Gutenberg.
Object Facts
- Period
- Tang dynasty (618–907)
- Date
- dated 11 May 868
- Medium
- Woodblock-printed ink on paper, in seven sheets joined to a scroll
- Dimensions
- H. 27.6 cm; L. 499.5 cm
- Held by
- The British Museum
London, United Kingdom - Accession
- Or.8210/P.2
The British Library / British Museum — Stein Collection (Or.8210/P.2)
Why it matters
Foundational object in the history of printing as a human technology. The frontispiece woodcut of the Buddha preaching to Subhuti is also one of the earliest surviving printed pictures in any tradition.
How it travelled
Sealed inside Cave 17 at Dunhuang for nearly a thousand years. Sir Aurel Stein purchased it from the cave's discoverer, the Daoist priest Wang Yuanlu, in 1907 for the equivalent of about £130 — a transaction that remains historically and ethically contested.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see Diamond Sutra (868 CE)?+
Diamond Sutra (868 CE) is held by the The British Museum in London, United Kingdom. Accession number Or.8210/P.2. Online catalogue record: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_1919-0101-0-249.
When was Diamond Sutra (868 CE) created?+
Diamond Sutra (868 CE) dates to dated 11 May 868, during the Tang dynasty (618–907).
What is Diamond Sutra (868 CE) made of?+
Diamond Sutra (868 CE) is a printed scroll executed in woodblock-printed ink on paper, in seven sheets joined to a scroll, measuring H. 27.6 cm; L. 499.5 cm.
How did Diamond Sutra (868 CE) end up at the British Museum?+
Sealed inside Cave 17 at Dunhuang for nearly a thousand years. Sir Aurel Stein purchased it from the cave's discoverer, the Daoist priest Wang Yuanlu, in 1907 for the equivalent of about £130 — a transaction that remains historically and ethically contested.
Can I reuse the photograph of Diamond Sutra (868 CE)?+
The image is in the public domain and free for any use. Crediting the British Museum is encouraged but not required.
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