Artwork
Text, Folio 69 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 69 (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 wooden board measuring roughly a foot in length, divided into three rectangular panels.
About this work
Overview
The object is a wooden board measuring roughly a foot in length, divided into three rectangular panels. Each panel contains a regular array of minute, uniformly spaced perforations that form a grid pattern. The board bears faint circular impressions near its edges and shows signs of age-related wear, indicating long-term use.
Subject & Meaning
The perforated panels suggest a functional purpose, likely serving as a framework for holding strings, cords, or thin wires. Such a device could have been employed in early writing practices, for example as a guide for aligning characters, or in musical contexts as a primitive stringed instrument or tuning aid.
Technique & Style
Crafted from a single piece of wood, the board was drilled with precision to create consistent holes across all three sections. The uniformity of the perforations reflects a systematic approach, while the shallow circular marks near the margins hint at additional attachments or fastening methods.
History & Provenance
The board dates to the early 12th century, placing it at more than nine hundred years old. It is associated with a manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita‑sutra), indicating a possible link to Buddhist textual production or ritual practice. The object is presently held by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Context
During the period of its creation, paper was not yet widespread in many regions of Asia, and wooden or bamboo devices with perforated surfaces were common for arranging text or supporting musical activity. The board’s design aligns with known tools used by scribes and musicians to maintain alignment and tension.
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 28 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 72 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 83 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 70 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 60 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 65 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 67 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 68 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 99 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)