【Collection of Zhejiang Provincial Museum】 Woodblock Edition of “The Sutra of the Most Precious Treasury” from the Wuyue Kingdom of the Five Dynasties

The woodblock printing in Zhejiang was at the forefront nationwide during the Five Dynasties period, which was related to the emphasis placed by the Wuyue Kingdom's three generations of emperors on culture and education, and the extensive printing of Buddhist sutras. Qian Chu, the last ruler of Wuyue Kingdom, led the way in the large-scale printing of sutras by the government. In the years of Bingchen (956), Yichou (965), and Yihai (975), "The Sutra of the Most Precious Treasury" was carved three times, each time producing eighty-four thousand volumes, which were stored in the copper and iron stupas of King Ashoka and the Leifeng Pagoda. The quantity was enormous and held a significant place in the history of printing in China.

"The Sutra of the Most Precious Treasury" from the Yihai year (975) is also known as the "Leifeng Pagoda Treasury Sutra" and a large number of editions were revealed as the Leifeng Pagoda partially collapsed on September 25, 1924.