Text, folio 172 (recto), 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 172 (recto), 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 covered in tiny, carved squares. The squares form rows of raised letters, like Braille but deeper. The wood has a warm brown color, and the carving looks precise, with no paint—just the wood itself. These blocks were used to print Buddhist texts. The letters are arranged in neat columns, ready to stamp onto paper. The craftsmanship suggests this was meant to be both practical and precise. Look up The Cleveland Museum of Art to see more examples of printed Buddhist manuscripts.