Text, Folio 77 (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 77 (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 block with three raised rectangles. Each rectangle is covered in tiny, evenly spaced dots arranged in neat rows. The wood looks worn, and there are two small metal rings on either side of the middle section. These dots aren’t just decoration—they’re part of an old way to write in Nepal. The block was used to press ink onto paper, creating patterns for Buddhist texts. Check out The Cleveland Museum of Art to see this up close.