Sutra on Samantabhadra Bodhisattva’s Realization of Wisdom

CHINA; Tang dynasty

The Biography of Huang Shiqiang, a Buddhist story that extols the merits of copying the Sutra on Samantabhadra Bodhisattva’s Realization of Wisdom, precedes this manuscript of the sutra. The biography is uniquely and suitably positioned as a preface to the sutra.
The calligraphy is neatly executed at an even pace. Each character is framed broadly with spacious strokes, which gives a visual sense of stability and equanimity to the piece. Strokes begin and end with pointed tips, but the tactile following-through between them is downplayed. There is a balanced coordination of light and heavy brushwork and a moderate use of linear strokes. The work displays a warm, radiant quality similar to that of Master Zhiyong and Yu Shinan.