明 永樂 紅漆戧金 《佛名經》 夾經板|Sutra Covers with the Eight Buddhist Treasures
Unknown
Date unknown · Red lacquer with incised decoration inlaid with gold · Asian Art
This pair of red lacquered wood covers once protected a copy of the Sutra of the Great Aeon. On each, the central triple flaming jewel, symbolizing the three jewels of Buddhism, is flanked by four of the Eight Buddhist Treasures, which include the wheel, parasol, knot, paired fish, canopy, lotus, jar, and conch shell. In 1401, Emperor Yongle ordered the printing of the Tibetan Buddhist canon (Kangyur). Unlike the scroll or accordion-fold book format of Chinese texts, Tibetan texts were organized as stacks of loose-leaf sheets that would have fit between these covers.
- Artist
- Unknown
- Date
- Date unknown
- Medium
- Red lacquer with incised decoration inlaid with gold
- Culture
- China
- Department
- Asian Art
- Credit line
- Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2015
