Artwork

Two nuns teaching lay women, colophon page of folio 167 (recto) from a Kalpa-sutra and Story of Kalakacharya

Two nuns teaching lay women, colophon page of folio 167 (recto) from a Kalpa-sutra and Story of Kalakacharya is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1290 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work is a painted colophon page from folio 167 (recto) of a Kalpa‑sutra and the narrative of Kalakacharya.

About this work

Overview

The work is a painted colophon page from folio 167 (recto) of a Kalpa‑sutra and the narrative of Kalakacharya. It depicts a didactic scene in which two Buddhist nuns address a group of laywomen. The piece belongs to the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The composition illustrates the transmission of religious instruction from ordained women to female followers, emphasizing the role of nuns as teachers within the Buddhist community. The laywomen’s expressions combine attentive curiosity with respectful reverence, underscoring the importance of lay participation in spiritual practice.

Technique & Style

Executed in an unidentified medium, the image employs a restrained palette of muted, earth‑derived hues. The figures are rendered with a straightforward yet refined approach, their garments and postures conveyed through clean lines and subtle shading that lend the scene a calm, contemplative atmosphere.

History & Provenance

The folio originates from a manuscript that combines ritual instructions (Kalpa‑sutra) with the hagiographic tale of Kalakacharya, a notable figure in Buddhist tradition. The page entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition, joining a broader assemblage of Asian religious art.

Context

Within the broader manuscript, the colophon serves as a concluding statement, often honoring the patrons or scribes. Here, the visual focus on female instruction reflects a historical emphasis on monastic education for women, a theme documented in various Buddhist textual traditions.