Artwork
Text, Folio 19 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 19 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra) is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 14 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1938.301.19.a
- Credit line
- Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
About this work
Overview
This artwork is a wooden folio, specifically Folio 19 (recto), from an ancient manuscript of the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra, a key text of Mahayana Buddhism. It features densely written text in a script resembling Sanskrit, divided into rows on a light brown wooden surface, with the ink a deeper brown hue.
Subject & Meaning
The text on the folio is part of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines, a foundational Buddhist scripture emphasizing wisdom and the path to enlightenment. The subject matter is deeply religious and philosophical, reflecting core teachings of Mahayana Buddhism.
Technique & Style
The manuscript page exhibits a traditional writing style, with characters densely arranged in horizontal rows. The use of wood as the writing medium and the brown ink on a lighter wood background suggests an ancient, possibly labor-intensive, production method.
History & Provenance
Given its material (wood) and script, the folio is likely of considerable age, though exact dating and origin are not specified here. It is currently part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.
Context
This folio would have been part of a larger manuscript used for study or ritual in a Buddhist context, possibly in a monastery or by a wealthy patron, given the resource intensity of its creation.
Artist & collection
- Text, folio 172 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 69 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 95 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 22 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 136 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 171 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 21 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 88 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 138 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)