Book cover, wooden

Museum number:
9-22076
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21090022076
Alternate number:
BY.T-191 and T-191 (original number)
Description:
This is a wooden book cover for a Prajñaparamita text. Here are three principal figures, two secondary figures, and many small figures of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Lamas carved into wood, surrounded by a border and a background of with a floral sky. Left to right they are: 1. the Buddha Vairocana, Sarvavid 2. the Goddess Prajñaparamita (the principal figure) 3. the Buddha Shakyamuni on a lion throne These three figures are pictured here on their thrones of highest Enlightenment, surrounded by the auspicious beings are symbols associated with the attainment of perfect Buddhahood. The secondary figures, on either side of the Goddess Prajñaparamita, are Buddha Amitayus on the left and Green Tara on the right. Wooden book covers are used typically with volumes of the Buddhas own words such as the Prajñaparamita sutras. The identification of these figures is not completely certain, as the lack or loss of detail in the carving introduces some doubt. Compare to T-121 and T-190. See also: T-155, T-156, T-157, etc.
Collection place:
Tibet
Verbatim coll. place:
Tibet
Collector:
Theos C. Bernard
Materials:
Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Carvings (visual works)
Function:
7.0 Use not specified (Communication, Records, Currency, and Measures)
Production date:
19th-20th century
Department:
Asia (except western Russia)
Images:
Hearst Museum object 1 of 2 titled Book cover, wooden, accession number 9-22076, described as This is a wooden book cover for a Prajñaparamita text. Here are three principal figures, two secondary figures, and many small figures of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Lamas carved into wood, surrounded by a border and a background of with a floral sky. Left to right they are: 1. the Buddha Vairocana, Sarvavid 2. the Goddess Prajñaparamita (the principal figure) 3. the Buddha Shakyamuni on a lion throne These three figures are pictured here on their thrones of highest Enlightenment, surrounded by the auspicious beings are symbols associated with the attainment of perfect Buddhahood. The secondary figures, on either side of the Goddess Prajñaparamita, are Buddha Amitayus on the left and Green Tara on the right. Wooden book covers are used typically with volumes of the Buddhas own words such as the Prajñaparamita sutras. The identification of these figures is not completely certain, as the lack or loss of detail in the carving introduces some doubt. Compare to T-121 and T-190. See also: T-155, T-156, T-157, etc.Hearst Museum object 2 of 2 titled Book cover, wooden, accession number 9-22076, described as This is a wooden book cover for a Prajñaparamita text. Here are three principal figures, two secondary figures, and many small figures of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Lamas carved into wood, surrounded by a border and a background of with a floral sky. Left to right they are: 1. the Buddha Vairocana, Sarvavid 2. the Goddess Prajñaparamita (the principal figure) 3. the Buddha Shakyamuni on a lion throne These three figures are pictured here on their thrones of highest Enlightenment, surrounded by the auspicious beings are symbols associated with the attainment of perfect Buddhahood. The secondary figures, on either side of the Goddess Prajñaparamita, are Buddha Amitayus on the left and Green Tara on the right. Wooden book covers are used typically with volumes of the Buddhas own words such as the Prajñaparamita sutras. The identification of these figures is not completely certain, as the lack or loss of detail in the carving introduces some doubt. Compare to T-121 and T-190. See also: T-155, T-156, T-157, etc.

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