Heart Sutra (御製蓮華心輪迴文偈頌)

About 御製蓮華心輪迴文偈頌

Song · by 太宗趙炅撰

127,021 · about 423 min

The Imperial Lotus Heart Wheel of Rebirth Verses, composed by Emperor Taizong of Song, Zhao Jiong, stands as a significant Buddhist document of the Northern Song Dynasty. As a sovereign, Zhao Jiong actively supported Buddhism. These verses reflect his devout faith in the Dharma and his intent for political edification. Using the lotus as a metaphor, the content expounds upon the Buddhist principles of the mind's inherent purity and liberation from the cycle of rebirth, integrating Huayan and Pure Land school thoughts. It emphasizes transcending life and death through cultivating the mind and attaining awakening. The verses are concise in language, possessing both literary and religious value. They reflect the close relationship between the Song imperial house and Buddhism, holding important significance for the study of Buddhism's Sinicization and imperial Buddhist policy, occupying a unique place within Buddhist scriptures.