The Heart Sutra is an important classical text in Buddhism. In the long Chinese version, the text consists only of two hundred and sixty characters, but envelopes the content of over six hundred scrolls of teachings. Its influence over the history, politics, art, and culture of China is significant and complex. This set of three books features exquisite Heart Sutras written since the Tang era up till the 20th century.
Heart Sutra: Volume (I)
This volume features three Tang-dynasty Heart Sutras: two formerly in the collections of Xu Chengyao and Li Shengduo, and a third annotated version from the collection of the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris, considered one of the most complete Tang Heart Sutras of its kind. It showcases a Zhao Mengfu album of the Heart Sutra in running script; Wu Zhen’s cursive-script Heart Sutra from the collection of the Palace Museum; and a Dong Qichang album of the Heart Sutra in regular script, among others.
It also comprises Heart Sutras in the form of rubbings, including a Wei dynasty Longmen Grottoes example formerly in the collection of Gu Sui; Monk Huairen’s compilation of Wang Xizhi’s Heart Sutra in running script from the Art Museum of the Chinese University of Hong Kong; Deng Shiru’s seal-script rendition; and a version in running script by Emperor Qianlong.
An essay by Hui Lai Ping, “The Heart Sutra and Its Variations” offers further insight into the Heart Sutra and its significance in Chinese history, providing readers with a deeper appreciation of the text’s enduring place in the tradition of Chinese calligraphy, as well as the works presented across the three volumes.
Heart Sutra: Volume (II)
This volume showcases Heart Sutras written between the nineteenth and the twentieth century. It begins with exquisite copies of the text included in The Album of Tang Literati Writings with Poems and Paintings by Modern Figures, which were written by important individuals such Xu Naipu, Xu Baoheng, and Ma Gongyu, accompanied by inscriptions and drawings of the Buddha by Zhao Zhiqian, Wu Changshuo, Jin Cheng, Lu Hui, Wang Fu’an, Wu Daiqiu, and Zhang Daqian.
This is followed by an album of the Heart Sutra by Wu Yong and hanging scrolls by Shanqi, Yan Xiu, and others. Also included are Zhou Zhen’s excerpt from the scripture in clerical script, Li Zhun’s copy in seal script in a set of four, Xia Shoutian’s album, and excerpts from the sutra in regular script by Hong Yi and Qian Songwei.
Lastly, the editors included Heart Sutras written in small regular scripts by Liu Fengqi, Zheng Yuan, and Shang Yanliu, by military and political figures such as Qian Dajun and Ding Zhipan, and by academics Puru, Deng Sanmu, Gu Sui, Tai Jingnong, and Qi Gong.
The volume concludes with a series of prefaces to the Heart Sutra by scholars throughout the ages.
Heart Sutra: Volume (III)
Artists have often paired the text of the Heart Sutra next to their portraits of Guanyin. This volume brings together a rich selection of such works, including both collaborative pieces and those executed by a single artist. These include a series of combined works of the Buddha, Guanyin, and the Heart Sutra by Qi Baishi, Shen Yinmo, Mei Lanfang, Ye Gongchuo, Huang Shaomei, Huang Shaoqiang, Zhong Yong, and Feng Kanghou.
Deng Erya’s renditions of the Heart Sutra are also prominently featured. In addition to several Heart Sutras in regular script, the volume highlights his Study of Variant Forms of Characters from the Heart Sutra, now in the collection of the Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. This is accompanied by an essay by Phil Chan examining Deng Erya’s Heart Sutra works.
Boxed set of 3 volumes
Paperback
28.5cm x 24cm
Chinese-English edition
C25 ISBN: 978-962-8975-11-2
C26 ISBN: 978-962-8975-12-9
C27 ISBN: 978-962-8975-13-6
