Artwork
Text, Folio 29 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 29 (verso), 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. The object is a narrow wooden printing block, measuring roughly the length of a folio and divided into three raised panels.
About this work
Overview
The object is a narrow wooden printing block, measuring roughly the length of a folio and divided into three raised panels. Its surface is covered with uniformly spaced, minute perforations that create horizontal rows resembling lines of script, though no actual characters are visible. The wood shows signs of age, with a light brown patina and subtle surface scratches.
Subject & Meaning
The block was employed to reproduce portions of the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita‑sutra, a key Mahayana Buddhist scripture known as the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines. By transferring ink through the perforated matrix onto paper, the block facilitated the dissemination of this doctrinal text across monastic communities.
Technique & Style
The printing method reflects an early form of woodblock printing that relies on a dotted matrix rather than carved characters. Each tiny hole functions as an ink conduit, allowing a uniform impression of text. The precision of the dot pattern indicates skilled craftsmanship and an understanding of repeatable, high‑volume production.
History & Provenance
The block originates from a manuscript tradition that flourished in East Asia, where Buddhist sutras were commonly reproduced using such devices. Although the exact provenance is unclear, the block’s design aligns with printing practices documented in Chinese and Korean Buddhist centers from the medieval period.
Context
During the centuries when the Perfection of Wisdom sutras were widely circulated, woodblock printing represented a revolutionary means of preserving and sharing religious teachings. Blocks like this one enabled monasteries to produce multiple copies of sacred texts, supporting both devotional practice and scholarly study.
Legacy
Artifacts of this type illustrate the technological foundations of East Asian print culture, predating later movable‑type innovations. They also underscore the role of material objects in the transmission of Buddhist doctrine, offering insight into the intersection of religious devotion and early printing technology.
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 8 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 66 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 162 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 22 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 108 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 25 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)