AN IMPERIAL RUBBING OF THE PRAJNAPARAMITA SUTRA QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD, DATED TO 1775

rubbing of the Qianlong Emperor's copy of the Xinjing (Prajnamaramitra Sutra, or 'Heart Sutra') dated to the xinwei year, corresponding to 1751), calligraphy in xingshu (running script), rubbed on five sheets of black paper within a border of archaistic kui dragons, followed by a four-page colophon, with a separate frontispiece depicting Guanyin, each page mounted in the form of an album between zitan wood covers and yellow paper with gold flecking, the cover incised and gilded with the title Yushu banruo Poluomi duo xinjing ('Prajnamaramitra sutra by his Majesty'), repeated on an outer zitan wood box

Sotheby's Hong Kong, 23rd October 2005, lot 382.

The overall condition is quite good, except for some expected tear and wear to the edges of the paper, as well as occasional insect holes. One spread of gilt-splashed paper are separated along the folding line. The original mounting appears to have been preserved. The covers and the box are also in general good condition, in spite of some scratches. The incised characters have traces of gilding.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The Prajnaparamita sutra (Xinjing or Heart Sutra) was translated in the 7th century by the pilgrim monk Xuanzang on the orders of Emperor Gaozong (r. 649-683 AD). The Heart Sutra, propagating total denial of reality of the phenomenal world, is one of the most important Mahayana texts and became a popular text for copying, probably partly due to its brevity. Such copying had the dual function of serving as a calligraphic exercise and representing an act of devotion.

The Qianlong Emperor was a devout Buddhist and is known to have himself copied the Heart Sutra countless times. The present book encloses a rubbing of a stele carved with the Emperor’s own calligraphic rendering of the text executed in the xinwei year (1751). In the 40th year of his reign, he commissioned a rubbing of it to be taken to which a colophon was added.

Various other objects were ordered by the Qianlong Emperor to be carved with the text, see for example a jade book carved with the text formerly in the collection of the Empress Dowager Cixi and now in the Chester Beatty library, illustrated by W. Watson, Chinese Jade Books in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, 1963, no. 2, p.24, another example with a zitan wood cover sold in these rooms, The Dragon Emperor, 31st October 2004, lot 6, as well as a smaller version sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 26th April 2004, lot 988.