Avatamsaka Sutra No. 78
Unknown Artist
1300s
Medium
Folded book with illustrated frontispiece; gold and silver on mulberry paper
Dimensions
each page: 20.7 × 11 cm · book: 20.6 × 43.7 cm
Classification
Bound Volume
Department
Korean Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
Accession Number
1994.25
About this artwork
This illuminated manuscript presents one part of the multivolume sacred text titled Avatamsaka (Flower Garland) sutra. Both the script and the image are rendered in gold ink on the smooth surface of the dark blue, indigo-dyed mulberry paper. This portion of the text, which reads from right to left, describes the encounter of the Buddha of the Future (Maitreya) and the young pilgrim Sudhana. The Buddha gives his words of wisdom to Sudhana, who asks questions about the path toward spiritual awaken...