Fragment of a canonical tantra
Folios from a canonical tantra.
Canonical tantra : folios.
The tantras form part of the Tibetan Buddhist scriptural canon, which comprises thousands of works translated mainly from Sanskrit between the eighth and thirteenth centuries CE. The elongated format is carried over from the South Asian palm leaf, which was never used in Tibet. The alphabetic Tibeta...
| Full title: |
Fragment of a canonical tantra [electronic resource]. |
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| Alternative titles: |
Folios from a canonical tantra. Canonical tantra : folios. |
| Format: | Physical Object |
| Language: | Tibetan |
| Published: |
[16th-17th century].
|
| Series: |
SOAS Digital Library.
East Asia Collection. South Asia. China Collection. |
| Subjects: | |
| Online access: |
Electronic Resource Click here to view record |
| Summary: |
The tantras form part of the Tibetan Buddhist scriptural canon, which comprises thousands of works translated mainly from Sanskrit between the eighth and thirteenth centuries CE. The elongated format is carried over from the South Asian palm leaf, which was never used in Tibet. The alphabetic Tibetan script was derived from South Asian models probably in the seventh century, and is here seen in its non-cursive style as also used in blockprints. The earliest Tibetan manuscripts were written on paper imported from China, but from about the thirteenth century paper has been manufactured in Tibet and neighbouring parts of the Himalayas. The text is written in locally produced ink using a bamboo pen. Reproducing the canon, of which every monastery should ideally have at least one copy, is a highly meritorious act for sponsor, calligrapher and monastic community (Text by Philip Denwood, from the exhibition catalogue: Objects of instruction : treasures of the School of Oriental and African Studies, Anna Contadini, Editor. London : SOAS, University of London, 2007.) |
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| Language: | Tibetan |
| Published: |
[16th-17th century].
|
| Subjects: | |
| Series: |
SOAS Digital Library.
East Asia Collection. South Asia. China Collection. |
| Place of Publication: |
China -- Tibet. |