Illuminated page of the Prajñaparamita-Sutra – Nagaraja
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ABM 025

 Code: ABM 025

  Country: Tibet (west)

  Style: Purang-Guge Kingdom

  Date: 1100 - 1200

  Dimensions in cm WxHxD: 67.8 x 20.5

  Materials: Distemper on paper

Manuscript folio of the Prajñaparamita-Sutra – “The Perfection of Wisdom” 

This manuscript paper folio belongs the Prajñaparamita-sutra or “Perfection of transcendent wisdom.” This copy probably originated from Western Tibet. Written in Tibetan capital letters, it is decorated with an illumination of Nagaraja, the “King of nagas,” these fantastic creatures half human and half snake. Tradition has it that Buddha Shakyamuni entrusted the Prajñaparamita teachings to the nagas before they could spread among humans.

Literature about the Prajñaparamita, or “perfection of transcendent wisdom,” is fundamental in the emergence of Mahayana Buddhism also known as “Great Vehicle.” These texts emphasize wisdom or transcendent knowledge that leads to the perception of the true nature of phenomena, in order to realize Buddhahood. In doing so, they deal extensively with emptiness as the ultimate nature of all phenomena. They also highlight the way of the bodhisattva, promoted as the ideal of the Buddhist way.

This page appears to come from the same text as ABM 024 and 027.