Artwork
Text, folio 171 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 171 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra) is an unspecified painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Unknown. It dates from 14 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1938.301.171.b
- Credit line
- Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
About this work
Overview
This folio, numbered 171 on the verso side, forms part of a manuscript of the Ashtasahasrika Prajñāpāramitā, the "Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines". The parchment sheet is light brown, weathered by age, and bears three densely written blocks of text in a uniform script, without decorative elements or marginalia.
Subject & Meaning
The content consists of a portion of the Buddhist sutra that expounds the concept of emptiness and the path to enlightenment. As a segment of a larger doctrinal work, the text serves a religious and instructional purpose within Mahayana Buddhist practice.
Technique & Style
The script is rendered in a consistent hand, likely using a brush or pen on prepared animal skin. The lettering is tightly set, maximizing the use of space, and the absence of ornamental headings reflects a utilitarian approach typical of monastic copying practices.
History & Provenance
The manuscript originates from a tradition of hand‑copied Buddhist scriptures, though the specific scribe and workshop remain unidentified. The folio’s material and script suggest a medieval origin, possibly from a South Asian or East Asian monastic center, and it has survived as part of a larger codex now housed in a museum collection.
Context
Pages such as this illustrate the transmission of the Prajñāpāramitā literature across centuries, highlighting the role of scribal labor in preserving Buddhist philosophy. While the page itself lacks visual embellishment, its existence contributes to the broader understanding of textual culture in Buddhist monastic settings.
Artist & collection
- Text, folio 171 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 16 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 184 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 8 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 182 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)