Heart Sutra in Slender Columns on Light Paper
Sold – no longer available
This piece was handmade by Gashō and was a one-of-a-kind work. It cannot be reordered and will never exist in this form again. The page stays online as part of our archive.
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Details about the sold piece
- Height 193 cm
- Width 55 cm
- Item Type Kakemono
- Jikusaki Metal
- Material Honshi Paper
- Period of Creation Shôwa (1926–1989)
- Technique Hand-Painted
- Unique Work Yes
No longer available
Description
Line by line, the text of the Heart Sutra unfolds on this hanging scroll in calm, balanced calligraphy. The even stroke width and the disciplined structure of the characters suggest a practiced hand that gave expression to the text with great care. The warm tone of the paper forms a pleasant contrast to the deep black ink and makes the individual characters stand out clearly.
The work dates from the Shôwa period and is executed on paper. The jikusaki made of metal sets a subtle, modern accent within the otherwise classical mounting of the hanging scroll. As one of the central teachings of Mahayana Buddhism, the Heart Sutra has been copied out calligraphically in Japan for centuries, both as a spiritual practice and as an independent work of art.
This hanging scroll is suited to anyone who appreciates Japanese calligraphy or wishes to lend their home a quiet, contemplative note. It can be understood equally as a religiously motivated collector's item or as a purely aesthetic wall object.
