On January 11, China's first gold edition of Vajracchedika Prajna Paramita Sutra (abbreviated as Diamond Sutra), hailed as "the first gold book of China", was unveiled in a Xinhua bookstore in Suzhou. A total of 56 sets was published in Suzhou, each with a price tag of 19,600 yuan.

Using the most influential version of The Diamond Sutra translated by Kumarajiva and handwritten by Kangxi, the book is made of 99.9% pure gold and printed with nanotechnology by Shanghai Coin Casting Factory, an affiliate of the People's Bank of China.

The whole book contains 36 pages, weighs 6 kilograms, features a gold seal of the Sakyamuni on the front cover, and comes in a red sandalwood box. This serial-numbered gold edition of The Diamond Sutra will be published around the world with a limited quantity of 5,000, including 2,000 in China.

(Chinanews.cn January 14, 2005)