Text, Folio 141 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Text, Folio 141 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra) is a 14 unspecified by Unknown, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 14
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This looks like a long, narrow wooden block with carved lines. The surface is covered in tiny, repeating patterns—rows of dots and shapes that form a grid. Two small circular marks appear near the center, like tiny buttons or seals. The wood has a worn, golden-brown color, and the carving looks precise and uniform. These blocks were used to stamp text onto paper or fabric. The patterns here are likely part of a Buddhist scripture, made by hand over a thousand years ago. Check out The Cleveland Museum of Art to see more examples of this kind of carved block.