Artwork
Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines: Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita: Decorated Leaf (recto)
Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines: Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita: Decorated Leaf (recto) is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1119 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This painted leaf originates from a Buddhist manuscript titled Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts the Perfection of Wisdom, representing the core Mahayana Buddhist doctrine that ultimate reality is empty of inherent existence.
Created in 1119 at Vikramaśīla University, this religious painting serves as a decorated leaf from the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita, a foundational Sanskrit Buddhist text. The work depicts the Perfection of Wisdom, representing the core Mahayana Buddhist doctrine that ultimate reality is empty of inherent existence. As a religious artifact, the leaf functions not merely as an illustration but as a sacred object embodying the text's philosophical teachings on non-attachment and the path to enlightenment.
Its creation at a major monastic center underscores its role in the transmission of esoteric Buddhist knowledge during the Pala period.
History & Provenance
The Decorated Leaf (recto) of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines was created in 1119 at Vikramaśīla University. The work entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is held under accession number 1938.301.2.a. No further details of commission, intermediate ownership, or acquisition history are documented in the available sources.
Overview
This painted leaf originates from a Buddhist manuscript titled Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines. It presents three distinct miniature scenes arranged along a narrow strip of paper. Each circular medallion frames a serene, seated figure, likely a revered Buddhist teacher, rendered with a calm demeanor.
These illustrations are interwoven with lines of script, suggesting a close relationship between the visual and textual elements of the sacred work.
Technique & Style
The artwork is executed on a long, narrow paper strip, a format typical for illuminated manuscripts. Three distinct scenes are presented, each featuring a seated figure enclosed within a circular frame. The palette is notable for its use of red, blue, and gold, which provide a vibrant contrast to the figures' plain backgrounds.
The script is integrated directly around and between the images, demonstrating a unified approach to the page's design.
Artist & collection
- Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines: Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita
Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines: Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita: Decorated Leaf
Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines: Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita: Decorated Leaf
Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines: Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita: Decorated Leaf
Text, Folio 5 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Prajnaparamita flanked by two female figures, folio 1 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines: Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita: Back Cover
Prajnaparamita flanked by a white female figure and a white bodhisattva, folio 90 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 4 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Three female figures, folio 89 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 3 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 186 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)