Printing Block

2019-6-1

From: Mongolia

Curatorial Section: Asian

View All (17) Object Images

Object Number 2019-6-1
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Buddhist | Mongolian
Provenience Mongolia
Period 17th Century | 18th Century
Date Made 17th - 18th Century
Section Asian
Materials Wood
Technique Carved
Inscription Language Mongolian Language | Mongolian Language | English Language
Description

Two-sided wooden printing block for a Mongolian-language Buddhist text. The passage that appears on the block specifies Buddhist virtues of meekness, diligence, alms-giving and truthfulness. The text is in Mongolian language and script, the chapter (7) and page number (recto 12) in the margin are also written in Chinese, indicating that this block was likely part of a state-sponsored publication project by the Qing government, which from the 17th century ruled what is today Mongolia, as well as China. The chapter and page numbers give some sense of the number of blocks, probably several hundred, required to print the entire work. There is a small hole with a metal screw thread on the side.

Length 50.6 cm
Width 14 cm
Depth 2.8 cm
Credit Line Gift of Henry R. Glick, 2019

Report problems and issues to digitalmedia@pennmuseum.org.