One of the First Forms of Printing
Woodblock printing is thought to be the first form of printing. This method of printing originated in Asia. Mongolian woodblock printing dates back to the 10th century.
Dorje Zodpa SutraThe Fine Arts Zanabazar Museum
Dorje Zodpa Sutra
This sutra, created in the 19th century, manifests the doctrines of supreme scripture and mystic truths of Buddhism.
It’s a treasure sutra written with precious stones and is small in size.
Guardian of five kinds of animals
The Mongols lived in serenity, moving leisurely from pasture to pasture, herding and benefiting from their livestock in the vast territory of their land of Altai, Khangai mountain ranges, steppe, grassland, and Gobi desert.
Guardian of five kinds of animalsThe Fine Arts Zanabazar Museum
In the sequence of four seasons for thousands of years, they have worshipped their five kinds of livestock of horse, camel, cattle, sheep and goat as well as deer.
Canon of Amitabha
This Buddha is depicted with a serene countenance, sitting in Vajra posture on a circular base of a blooming lotus and gesturing in Dharma mudra, shown with the hands resting in lap and palms upward, symbolizing the elimination of desire and lust.
Canon of Amitabha (XIX century)The Fine Arts Zanabazar Museum
Stationery
Inkwell and inkstone: The round, triangular, or rectangular-shaped inkwell with a lid made of copper, brass, iron, or stone that keeps the diluted ink imbibed in khadak or soft gauzy cloth.
StationeryThe Fine Arts Zanabazar Museum
Brush, ink, inkwell, and inkstone, as well as paper, are the primary devices of writing. Until recently, Mongolians used to make their writing set by hand.
Wood printingThe Fine Arts Zanabazar Museum
Wood printing
The wooden block has a sleek, polished surface and measures 1.5 cm in thickness. It features three distinct and iconic images of Buddhas.
In the center, Buddha Shakyamuni is depicted, while Vajradhara is depicted on the right, and Manjushri is on the left. Each of these depictions is bordered with raised lines, adding depth and definition to the images.
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Discover the art of wood printing in Mongolia with us and expand your knowledge in this unique craft.
