Artwork

Text, Folio 142 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)

Text, Folio 142 (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 14 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The object is a narrow wooden panel, identified as a painting, that forms part of a manuscript of the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita‑sutra.

About this work

Overview

The object is a narrow wooden panel, identified as a painting, that forms part of a manuscript of the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita‑sutra. Its surface is perforated with a dense grid of tiny holes arranged in orderly rows, creating a pattern that resembles text but consists of empty spaces. Two small metal pegs near the ends secure the board, and the wood shows signs of age and wear.

Technique & Style

The perforated surface suggests a stencil or printing function: the holes would have allowed ink or pigment to be applied through the panel to produce repeated characters or symbols. Such precise drilling required careful craftsmanship and reflects a utilitarian aesthetic, where the visual effect serves a ritual purpose rather than decorative intent.

Context

In Buddhist manuscript production, especially for the Perfection of Wisdom texts, tools like this panel were employed to copy sacred passages with consistency. The use of a reusable perforated board enabled scribes to replicate complex scriptural sections while maintaining the required reverence and accuracy demanded by monastic practice.

History & Provenance

The panel originates from a manuscript of the Prajnaparamita‑sutra, a key Mahayana Buddhist scripture. While the exact provenance is not recorded, similar devices have been found in collections of Buddhist art and are associated with scriptural transmission in South and Central Asian monastic centers.