Artwork

Text, Folio 35 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)

Text, Folio 35 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra) is an unspecified painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1119 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The writing is executed in a formal cursive hand, featuring decorative flourishes typical of Buddhist manuscript traditions.

The object is a leaf of parchment, identified as folio 35 verso, taken from a manuscript of the *Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines* (the *Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita* sutra). The page bears black ink script arranged in horizontal lines across a light‑brown, textured surface. The writing is executed in a formal cursive hand, featuring decorative flourishes typical of Buddhist manuscript traditions.

Subject & Meaning

The text on the folio forms part of a Mahayana Buddhist scripture that expounds the doctrine of emptiness and the perfection of wisdom. As a component of the larger sutra, the passage would have been used for study, recitation, or ritual, conveying the philosophical teachings central to the Prajnaparamita corpus.

Technique & Style

The script is rendered in a refined, flowing cursive style, employing fine black ink applied with a brush. The calligraphy displays intricate line work and ornamental extensions that enhance legibility while reflecting the aesthetic conventions of Buddhist manuscript production in the region of origin.

History & Provenance

The leaf originates from a larger codex of the *Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita* and is now part of a collection that includes similar Buddhist manuscripts, such as those held by the Cleveland Museum of Art. Its precise date and place of creation are not specified, but the material and script suggest a medieval Asian provenance.

Context

Manuscripts of the *Perfection of Wisdom* were widely copied across the Buddhist world from India to East Asia, serving both devotional and scholarly functions. The use of parchment and formal cursive script indicates a production environment that valued durability and aesthetic presentation, likely within a monastic scriptorium.