Text, folio 163 (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 163 (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 is a long, narrow wooden block with rows of tiny raised letters carved into it. The letters are arranged in neat columns, all the same size, and look like they’re meant to stamp ink onto paper. Two small metal studs are stuck near the top corners—maybe to hang it up. This block was used to print Buddhist scripture, part of a very long text called the *Perfection of Wisdom*. The carving is so precise that every letter matches its neighbor, like a puzzle with no gaps. If you want to see more like this, check out The Cleveland Museum of Art.