Collection place: Xizang autonomous region (Tibet), Tibetan Pleatau, China / Accession number: Acc.2306 - Hearst Museum Portal Search Results

Start Over Collection place Xizang autonomous region (Tibet), Tibetan Pleatau, China Accession number Acc.2306

Hearst Museum object titled Sutra, accession number 9-6955, described as The Suvaranaprabhasasutra; 122-leaf manuscript on blue Chinese paper with gold lettering on black ground; probably written by same monk as 9-6954; Fide Professor James Bosson; From the Kanjur, equivalent of the Buddhist bible in Tibet; used by anyone in a religious context, e.g. recitals at rituals in temple or home; commissioned by someone wealthy and of high rank for all raw materials had to be supplied to the monk who made manuscript; ca. 75-100 years old; one of the most revered and popular Sutras among northern Buddhists, i.e. Mongols and Tibetans. Usually read at time of sickness or death (fide Professor Lewis Lancaster, UC Berkeley Department of Oriental languages, ca. 1976)

Hearst Museum object titled Sutra, accession number 9-6954, described as The Aryakarandavyuhanamamahayana Sutra; 101-page manuscript on blue Chinese paper; alternating lines of gold and silver letters on black ground; panels of silk attached to cardboard cover and first sheet; Fide Professor James Bosson, 12-12-67; From the Kanjur, equivalent of the Buddhist bible in Tibet; used by anyone in a religious context, e.g. recitals at rituals in temple or home; commissioned by someone wealthy and of high rank for all raw materials had to be supplied to the monk who made manuscript; ca. 75-100 years old; The Aryakayanvyuha sutra was the first of the sutras to be translaed into Tibetan. It is about mercy and compassion. Sambodha, a learned man of the time (641-650 A.D.) did the translation under king Srontsamgampo. According to devout tradition: at this time just before the spread of Buddhism in Tibet, through the prayers of Avalokiteshwara three things flew to the top of the king’s palace: this sutra (in Lantza script), a stupa, and a statue of Chanadorji. The king, who was blind, had them brought down, thought them wonderful and made offerings to them. Afterwards his sight was restored.

Hearst Museum object titled Sutra, accession number 9-6953, described as The Perfection of Wisdom in 25,000 Lines or the Panca-Vimsati Prajnaparamita-Sutra Part II; 350 leaves of handmade paper with cover sheet showing the five protectors of the faith; cotton tab on one side; fide Professor James Bosson and Edward Canze. From the Kanjur, equivalent of the Buddhist bible in Tibet; used by anyone in a religious context; e.g. recitals at rituals in temple or home; made by a monk ca. 50-100 years ago. According to Professor Lewis Lancaster, UC Berkeley Department of Oriental Languages - ca. 1976- this is one volume of a 16 volume set (the ka part is missing; a Tibetan translation of the Sanskrit Astasahasrikaprajnaparamitasutra (the eight thousand lines). Probably 700-800 years old; handwritten. On each page, volume number is the upper letter. page number is a written word below.