Artwork
Text, Folio 21 (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) is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 14 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1938.301.21.a
- Credit line
- Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
About this work
Overview
This narrow folio, catalogued as Text, Folio 21 (recto), forms part of a larger manuscript of the Ashtasahasrika Prajñāpāramitā, a Buddhist scripture known as the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines. The sheet is light‑brown, its left edge uneven, and bears dense, dark‑brown ink script arranged in horizontal lines across three textual blocks.
Subject & Meaning
The page contains a segment of the Prajñāpāramitā sutra, a key Mahāyāna text that expounds the concept of emptiness and the perfection of wisdom. Its content reflects the doctrinal emphasis on transcending ordinary perception through profound philosophical insight.
Technique & Style
Written with a fine brush in dark brown pigment, the calligraphy is tightly packed, maximizing the limited space of the narrow paper. The material appears aged, showing signs of wear such as tears, creases, and a slightly roughened surface, typical of hand‑produced Buddhist manuscripts.
History & Provenance
The folio originates from an unidentified scriptorium; the artist remains unknown. It is a component of a complete manuscript of the Ashtasahasrika Prajñāpāramitā, suggesting it was produced for religious study or ritual use within a monastic setting.
Context
Manuscripts of the Prajñāpāramitā were widely copied across Central and East Asia from the early medieval period onward. This particular fragment reflects the broader tradition of Buddhist textual transmission, where dense script and durable paper were employed to preserve extensive doctrinal works.
Artist & collection
- Text, folio 172 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 135 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 118 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 144 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 64 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 8 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 111 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 123 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 80 (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)