The Shes rab khri pa, or Perfection of Wisdom in Ten Thousand Lines, is one of the prominent versions of the Perfection of Wisdom sutras, widely revered across the Himalayan region. These sutras, also known as Prajnaparamitasutras, are among the most significant texts in Mahayana Buddhism, exploring the profound concept of the emptiness of all phenomena. Mahayana followers attribute these teachings to the Buddha himself, while modern historians date their composition to between the first century BCE and the second century CE. They serve as the foundational scripture for the teachings on the Middle Way, which gained considerable influence in the Tibetan and Himalayan Buddhist traditions. This collection of the Shes rab khri pa is presented in two volumes, adopting a loose poti format. The text is inscribed in uchen script with black ink on cream-colored Bhutanese handmade paper. Each volume begins with a striking first page, featuring a central illustration of a Buddha, while the second page includes detailed margin illustrations depicting the previous lives of Buddha Shakyamuni and a stupa. As a sacred relic, this collection is preserved on traditional bookshelves within the Lama Lhakhang of the Dzong fortress. It is carefully protected, enveloped in multiple layers of cloth and shielded by two wooden boards, securely fastened with a string.
Extent: 2 volumes of manuscripts.
Alternative calendar and date: Tibetan, Iron Snake Year
Original institution reference: Shes rab khri pa.
