The Hyakumanto Dharani Scroll, Nara, Japan, 764-770 C.E.

Printing Press (Artifact Photo)

One of few remaining block printed dharani scrolls, the oldest surviving examples of printing on paper. Hyakuman means “one million” in Japanese. One million pagodas were built between 764 and 770 C.E. to house the one million scrolls.

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The Hyakumanto Dharani Scroll, Nara, Japan, 764-770 C.E.

The Hyakumanto Dharani Scroll, Nara, Japan, 764-770 C.E. Printing Museum, Houston, TX. https://printingmuseum.org/. Photo by IEEE History Center.