The brGyad Stong Pa, or Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines, is one of the most renowned versions of the Perfection of Wisdom sutras. As a condensed rendition of the complete Perfection of Wisdom, it holds a vital place in the Kanjur and is often published independently in ornate and illuminated manuscripts. These Prajnaparamita Sutras are central to Mahayana scriptures, exploring the profound concept of the emptiness of all phenomena. Followers of Mahayana Buddhism regard them as the Buddha’s words, while modern historians trace their composition to roughly the first century BCE to the second century CE. These sutras form the foundation for the teachings on the Middle Way, which have gained significant popularity in Tibetan and Himalayan Buddhist traditions. In this collection, the brGyad Stong Pa is presented in a single volume, adopting a loose poti format. The text is meticulously written in uchen script with black ink on cream-colored Bhutanese handmade paper. The first page features a central illustration of the Buddha, while the second page includes detailed illustrations of the previous lives of Buddha Shakyamuni and a stupa along the margins. An additional opening page, known as the tog, is elegantly adorned with gold ink on dark blue paper, featuring a central illustration of the Buddha. Regarded as a sacred relic, the collection is housed on traditional bookshelves within the Lama Lhakhang of the Dzong fortress. Each volume is carefully wrapped in multiple layers of cloth, sandwiched between two wooden boards, and securely fastened with a belt, ensuring its preservation and continued reverence for generations to come.
Extent: 1 volume of manuscript.
Original institution reference: brGyad stong pa.
