Sutra Cover
Unknown Artist
17th–18th century
Medium
Silk
Dimensions
13 x 5 3/4 in. (33.02 x 14.61 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Woven
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1946
Accession Number
46.186.18
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite **Sutra Cover** from Qing dynasty (16441911), dating to the 17th–18th century, exemplifies era's mastery of silk weaving. Crafted by an unknown artist, this delicate textile (13 x 5 3/4 in.) served a sacred purpose: protecting Buddhist sut, or scriptures, during storage or transport in temples. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1946, it now graces the Metropolitan Museum of Art Asian Art collection. Woven from luxurious silk, the cover likely features intricate floral motifs—a tag highlighting blooming flowers that symbolized prosperity, purity, and the Buddhist paradise in C...