Exhibition Themes > East Asian Collections > 29. Tibetan Printing Block
29. Tibetan Printing Block. Tibet, 19th century. Wood, (40 x 9 x 3.5 cm.) C. V. Starr East Asian Library
This block, carved on both sides, contains sections of the Prajna-paramita sutra, included in Chinese translation elsewhere in the exhibition. The Tibetan language version was printed on both sides of long sheets. The leaves were traditionally unbound, but assembled in order between wood "covers," and bound up with colorful cloth. Printing blocks such as this provide scholars and researchers with information about specific editions of the sacred texts.
