Sutra cover

“Sutra cover”means cover of sutra. Usually, Tibetan sutras were not bound in a volume; they were written or printed on long broadsheets of Tibetan paper, and they were read page by page during the chanting process. In the collection, ordinary sutras were wrapped with fabric, and the precious ones packaged and protected with two pieces of wooden boards on top and bottom. The covers usually feature delicate carvings, including images and patterns related to Buddhist sutras, making these covers unique woodcarving artworks. There are mantra reliefs, trespe, lotus and lotus pearl grain reliefs, and the statue reliefs of Five Dhyani Buddhas, Buddhas of Three Periods, Sakya, and Avalokitesvara. Many of them are national treasures, and all the major Tibetan monasteries have masterpieces of carved sutra covers dating back to the second dissemination of Buddhism, along with ancient sutras, for example, the cover of the “Biography of Sakyamuni Buddha”in the Nenying Monastery, and the cover of Tantric Mahasiddhas Group Image in Riwoche Monastery, which are invaluable treasures.

A carved wooden sutra cover

The art of carved wooden sutra covers suddenly came to an end after the 15th century. Few new works were made in modern times.

qingquang

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