Artwork
Text, Folio 58 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 58 (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. The object is a narrow wooden strip divided into three rectangular panels.
About this work
Overview
The object is a narrow wooden strip divided into three rectangular panels. Each panel is covered with rows of minute, evenly spaced black marks set against a light background, forming a dense, grid‑like text. The wood bears two small circular perforations near its ends and shows signs of wear from handling.
Subject & Meaning
The markings constitute a passage from the Buddhist scripture known as the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita‑sutra). Rendered in the Siddham script, the text is a key component of Mahayana Buddhist doctrinal literature, articulating the concept of emptiness and the path to enlightenment.
Technique & Style
The script was inscribed by hand using a fine brush or pen, producing uniformly spaced characters that create a regular, almost mechanical appearance. The use of a wooden support, rather than paper or silk, reflects a practical choice for durability in monastic settings, while the precise alignment of the marks demonstrates the scribes’ disciplined training.
History & Provenance
Created over nine centuries ago, the fragment originates from a larger manuscript that once comprised the complete sutra. Its survival on wood suggests it may have been part of a portable or frequently consulted copy. The piece entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is now conserved and displayed.
Context
During the period of its production, Siddham was the principal script for transmitting Buddhist texts across East Asia, especially in Japan and Korea. Manuscripts of the Perfection of Wisdom were central to monastic study and ritual recitation, underscoring the text’s religious and educational significance.
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 87 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 65 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 27 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 29 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 95 (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 99 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)