Scripture and verse

Zhaocheng Jin Tripitaka, a 900-year-old Buddhist canon discovered in Guangsheng temple of Zhaocheng, Shanxi province, in 1933, is a reprint of the first woodcut copy of the Buddhist Tripitaka scriptures dating back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The 4,900 or so volumes kept at the National Library of China is seen as one of the four most precious treasures of the institution. Another 19-meter-long volume of the canon from private collection, part of the annotation of the Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra, is on an exhibition tour in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou before auction on Dec 20.

10 am-5 pm, Nov 27 to 30. Rongbaozhai Mansion, No 19, West Liulichang Street, Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-6303-5279.8:30 am-8:30 pm, Dec 1 to 3. Shanghai Library, No 1555, Middle Huaihai Road, Xuhui district, Shanghai.021-6445-5555.

9 am-5:30 pm, Dec 5 to 6.Hangzhou Library, No 58, East Jiefang Road, Jianggan district, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.0571-8653-5011.