Artwork

Folio 1 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)

Folio 1 (recto), 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 14 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Folio 1 (recto) is a preserved page from the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra, a Buddhist scripture.

About this work

Overview

Folio 1 (recto) is a preserved page from the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra, a Buddhist scripture. The page combines original palm-leaf material with later reinforcements, reflecting its complex history.

Subject & Meaning

The text contains mantra syllables of invocation in black ink, indicating its religious significance. Tiny red and blue dots demarcate sentence beginnings, underscoring the page's functional and sacred purposes.

Technique & Style

The original page was crafted from palm leaves, later reinforced with lokta paper (made from high-altitude shrub bark) pasted over it, demonstrating adaptive preservation techniques.

History & Provenance

Originally copied in eastern India, the manuscript later resided in a Nepalese monastery, as evidenced by Nepalese numbers and the yellow lokta paper addition, which also helped prevent further deterioration around the 16th to 19th centuries.

Context

The mixed scriptural and numerical styles reflect the interchange between Indian (possibly from the Vikramashila monastery region in Bihar) and Nepalese Buddhist traditions.

Legacy

The meticulous, unsigned preservation efforts on this over 400-year-old page highlight the value placed on the manuscript's content across centuries, despite its fragile state.