Text, folio 44 (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 44 (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 panel covered in tiny, precise holes arranged in neat rows. The holes are carved in a pattern that looks like text, but it’s just empty spaces against the wood. Two small white dots mark the middle sections, dividing the panel into three parts. The holes spell out nothing—just silence. This is a block of wood used to stamp sacred Buddhist texts onto paper. It’s like a giant rubber stamp for ancient writing. Look up The Cleveland Museum of Art to see more of their collection.