Text, Folio 40 (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 40 (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 wooden block with three carved sections. Each section has rows of tiny, sharp letters pressed into the wood, like raised dots forming words. The surface looks worn, with two small round marks near the center of each section. These blocks were used to print Buddhist texts by hand. The letters are arranged in neat lines, ready to stamp ink onto paper. Look up The Cleveland Museum of Art to see more printed religious works.