Artwork
Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines: Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita: Decorated Leaf (recto)
Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines: Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita: Decorated Leaf (recto) is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1119 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This painted leaf originates from a Buddhist manuscript titled Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines.
About this work
Overview
These illustrations are interwoven with lines of script, suggesting a close relationship between the visual and textual elements of the sacred work.
This painted leaf originates from a Buddhist manuscript titled Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines. It presents three distinct miniature scenes arranged along a narrow strip of paper. Each circular medallion frames a serene, seated figure, likely a revered Buddhist teacher, rendered with a calm demeanor. These illustrations are interwoven with lines of script, suggesting a close relationship between the visual and textual elements of the sacred work.
Subject & Meaning
The manuscript fragment, part of an Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita text, transmits profound Buddhist teachings on wisdom. The figures depicted within the circular frames are understood to be Buddhist teachers or enlightened beings, their postures and calm expressions conveying spiritual authority. These illustrations served to visually reinforce the philosophical concepts detailed in the surrounding script, guiding the reader through the "Perfection of Wisdom."
Technique & Style
The artwork is executed on a long, narrow paper strip, a format typical for illuminated manuscripts. Three distinct scenes are presented, each featuring a seated figure enclosed within a circular frame. The palette is notable for its use of red, blue, and gold, which provide a vibrant contrast to the figures' plain backgrounds. The script is integrated directly around and between the images, demonstrating a unified approach to the page's design.
Artist & collection
Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines: Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita
Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines: Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita: Decorated Leaf
Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines: Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita: Decorated Leaf
Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines: Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita: Decorated Leaf
Text, Folio 5 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines: Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita: Back Cover
Prajnaparamita flanked by a white female figure and a white bodhisattva, folio 90 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 4 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 3 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)