Illustrated Mahapratisara Dharani at Mogao Cave 17 by Wang Wenzhao; Northern Song dynasty, dated 980
Print on paper
Wang Wenzhao
CHINA; Northern Song dynasty
Wang Wenzhao was an expert in wood engraving during the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127). One of the artifacts discovered at Mogao Cave No. 17 in Dunhuang was an engraving of the Illustrated Mahapratisara Dharani. An inscription at the bottom stated the merits of reciting the dharani and the date of completion. In the center of the print, there is a seated Eight-Armed Bodhisattva, enclosed within a circle of Sanskrit words. Two more vertical inscriptions to the left and right of the circular wordings reveal two names. These inscriptions explain that Wang Wenzhao was the engraver, and Li Zhishun was the patron.
The illustrated engraving is regarded as an outstanding work from the Northern Song dynasty and is now kept at the British Museum in London.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: People, page 284.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Youlu and Pokorski, Stefanie and Yichao and Mankuang and Miaohsi,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: People },
pages = 284,
title = {{Wang Wenzhao}},
volume = 19,
year = {2016}}