Artwork
Text, Folio 121 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 121 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra) is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 14 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The object is a wooden printing block, catalogued as Text, Folio 121 (recto) from a manuscript of the *Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines* (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita‑sutra). It measures a long, narrow shape and is covered with a regular array of minute holes that hold ink for the impression of Buddhist text. The block is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The block was designed to reproduce a portion of the *Prajnaparamita* sutra, a central Mahayana Buddhist scripture that expounds the concept of emptiness and the perfection of wisdom. By enabling multiple copies of the same passage, the block facilitated the dissemination of these teachings throughout monastic communities.
Technique & Style
Crafted from wood, the block’s surface was meticulously drilled to create a matrix of uniformly spaced perforations. Each hole corresponds to a single character or glyph, allowing ink to be applied and transferred onto paper in a single impression. The precision of the grid reflects a sophisticated understanding of both woodwork and early printing technology.
History & Provenance
The block originates from Nepal, where woodblock printing was employed for Buddhist texts from the medieval period onward. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art through acquisition in the late 20th century, joining a broader collection of South Asian religious artifacts.
Context
Woodblock printing in the Himalayan region served as a practical solution for reproducing lengthy sutras before the advent of movable type. The *Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita* was especially popular, and blocks such as this one were integral to monastic scriptoria that produced ritual copies for study and liturgy.
Legacy
Objects like this printing block illustrate the early technological steps that preceded modern printing, highlighting the intersection of religious devotion and material culture. Their preservation offers insight into the transmission of Buddhist doctrine across centuries and the craftsmanship of Nepalese artisans.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
Text, Folio 11 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 106 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 132 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 124 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 110 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 69 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 7 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)