Artwork

Folio 1 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)

Folio 1 (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 1119 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Folio 1 (recto) is a narrow, yellowed sheet from a medieval Buddhist manuscript containing the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita‑sutra, also known as the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines. The page bears faint calligraphic text and shows evidence of use, such as perforations and wear, indicating its function as a working document rather than a decorative artwork.

Subject & Meaning

The manuscript records a key Mahayana Buddhist scripture that expounds the doctrine of emptiness and the path to enlightenment. As the opening leaf, this folio would have introduced the sutra’s extensive teachings on the perfection of wisdom, serving both liturgical and instructional purposes within monastic settings.

Technique & Style

The page is executed on paper with a yellowed ground, typical of East Asian manuscript production. Inked characters are rendered in a flowing brushstroke, reflecting the calligraphic conventions of the period. The presence of holes suggests the sheet was bound within a codex, allowing the text to be turned and read sequentially.

History & Provenance

The folio originates from a manuscript tradition that circulated across Buddhist centers in Asia from the early medieval period. While the precise origin and date are not specified, such copies were commonly produced in monastic scriptoria, often traveling along trade routes and accumulating signs of handling over centuries.

Context

The Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita‑sutra was a central text for Mahayana practitioners, influencing doctrinal development and ritual practice. Manuscripts like this one were essential for the transmission of the sutra’s complex philosophical ideas before the advent of printed editions.

Legacy

Surviving folios provide insight into the material culture of Buddhist scholarship, illustrating how sacred texts were physically managed and preserved. The wear and perforations on this page exemplify the lived history of a devotional object, informing contemporary understanding of manuscript use and conservation.