Northern Jiāngsū Scriptural Press 江北刻經處
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Notable Associates:
Sometimes also called 江北磚橋刻經處 |
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The Northern Jiāngsū Scriptural Press (Jiāngběi kèjīngchù 江北刻經處) was an important Buddhist press of the late Qīng 清未 period, founded by a former associate of the Jīnlíng Scriptural Press 金陵刻經處.
Miàokōng 妙空 (1826 - 1880; lay name Zhèng Xuéchuān 鄭學川) was an early associate of Yáng Wénhuì 楊文會 and collaborated in establishing the latter's Jīnlíng Scriptural Press 金陵刻經處. Although he was the the ranking monastic in the press management, Miàokōng also established presses in other Jiāngnán 江南 cities such as Sūzhōu 蘇州 and Hángzhōu 杭州. In 1874 Miàokōng set up the Northern Jiāngsū Scriptural Press in Zhuānqiáo town 磚橋鎮, Yángzhōu 揚州. The press specialized in the Prajñā-pāramitā sūtras. In 1883 the press published the Mahā-prajñā-pāramitā-sūtra 大般若波羅蜜經 in 600 fascicles, and although Miàokōng did not live to see the project completed, his disciple Jìngzhī 鏡之 ensured that his mentor's wishes were carried out.
During the war, the temple building housing the press was destroyed by Japanese soldiers, and the woodblocks were scattered to nearby temples. Many of the blocks were stored exposed to the elements, or were burned by soldiers. After 1949, those that remained, over 22,900 of them, were moved to the Jīnlíng Scriptural Press under the authority of the Chinese Buddhist Association 中國佛教協會.
This list is largely based on a Worldcat search, and is incomplete. It also includes works that were co-published by the Jīnlíng Scriptural Press.