Text, folio 185 (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 185 (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 strip of wood with rows of tiny, precise holes punched in it. The holes form neat, repeating patterns—like grids of dots—across the surface. Two small circular marks sit near the top, and the edges are slightly worn. This isn’t a painting but a tool: a stencil or template, likely used for copying text or designs. The holes would let ink or dye pass through to create clean, repeated letters or images. Look up The Cleveland Museum of Art to see what else they hold from this era.