Palm-leaf prayer book.
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Title |
Palm-leaf prayer book. |
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Description |
This is a contemporary example of palm-leaf binding. Religious sutras (an original thought in Buddism or Hinduism, spoken or written in a concise and memorable form) were copied onto palm leaves (cut in two, lengthwise) with a metal stylus. The leaf was then dried and rubbed with ink, which would form a stain in the wound. The finished leaves were given numbers, and two long twines were threaded through each end through wooden boards, making a palm-leaf book. When the book was closed, the excess twine would be wrapped around the boards to protect the manuscript leaves. The manuscript was intended to preserve and make the Indian sacred texts available to everyone. The original leaf books were difficult to preserve due to India's humidity. Buddhist monks spread the idea of palm-leaf binding throughout Persia, Afghanistan, and Iran, to China during the first century BC. The Buddhist scriptures are now written on paper instead of palm leaves, but this specific type of sandwiched binding for Buddhist sutras is still referred to as palm-leaf binding. |
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Subject |
Prayer books--India--Specimens.; Palm-leaf manuscripts.; Bookbinding--India. |
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Publisher |
[India] : [producer not identified] |
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Date |
[19--?]. |
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Rights |
Giertz Education Center @ the Krannert Art Museum |
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Replicas and Objects of the Giertz Education Center, Krannert Art Museum
