Song Dynasty Edition of the Compendium of the Five Lamps, in Twenty Volumes

The Song Dynasty (960–1279) is considered a golden age for woodblock printing in China. The "Compendium of the Five Lamps" (Wudeng Huiyuan) is a seminal collection of Zen Buddhist teachings and lineage records compiled in the 13th century.

Acquired in the tenth month of the Renyin year of the Guangxu reign original: "光緖壬寅"; this corresponds to October 1902. The Guangxu Emperor was the penultimate ruler of the Qing Dynasty.

Recorded by Yang Cishi of Hubei original: "鄂楊氏慈石記". "E" (鄂) is the classical abbreviation for Hubei province. Yang Cishi appears to be the collector or scholar who acquired this edition.