Artwork

Text, Folio 146 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)

Text, Folio 146 (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. Text, Folio 146 (recto), is a wooden printing block from a manuscript of the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra, a Buddhist scripture.

About this work

Overview

Text, Folio 146 (recto), is a wooden printing block from a manuscript of the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra, a Buddhist scripture. Dating back to a pre-printing press era, it features three rectangular panels with intricate, shallow carvings.

Subject & Meaning

The block's carvings represent the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines, a key Mahayana Buddhist text emphasizing wisdom and enlightenment. Its purpose was to mass-produce identical copies of this sacred scripture.

Technique & Style

The block boasts precise, shallow carvings of repeating patterns, including dots and lines, on light brown wood. These carvings were designed to transfer ink evenly onto paper, creating uniform textual reproductions.

History & Provenance

While specific origins are not detailed here, such blocks were commonly used in pre-printing press Buddhist manuscript reproduction, suggesting an Asian provenance, likely from a region practicing Mahayana Buddhism.

Context

This artifact reflects the era's need for efficient scripture dissemination before the advent of printing presses. Similar objects can be found at The Cleveland Museum of Art, highlighting the broader practice of wooden block printing in Buddhist textual tradition.