Text, Folio 86 (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 86 (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 wooden block with three rows of tiny, square holes arranged in neat lines. The holes are evenly spaced, creating a grid pattern. The wood has a smooth, polished look, and there are two small circular marks near the center. These blocks were used to stamp text onto paper or fabric—a way to print words without writing each one by hand. The precision of the holes suggests this was a tool for copying long texts, like religious writings. Check out how this connects to The Cleveland Museum of Art, where it’s kept.