| DESCRIPTION: Three beautifully detailed, red and gold lacquered sheets of Burmese Buddhist manuscripts describing rules of ceremony. Kammawasa are elaborately decorated manuscripts extracted from the Pali Vinaya pitaka: the monastic code of discipline which is generally read aloud at monastic assemblies. Topics ordinarily covered would include formalities for the ordination of monks and the bestowal of their robes, the consecration of an ordination hall, celebrating the festival of the full moon, and other such ceremonies. Kammawasa may be inscribed on palm leaf, ivory, copper, or even on pieces of discarded monks’ robes which have been lacquered to provide a rigid surface. The texts are usually composed in the large Burmese square script, known as “tamarind seed script” and are usually stored in an elaborate lacquer box made specifically for that purpose. All pages of this group are double sided, one side with script and the other with rich and highly complex scenes. All sheets are in very good condition and date to the latter 19th C. DIMENSIONS: Each approximately 23” long (58.5 cm) x 5 ½” (14 cm). Price: $525 Stock #LC47 |
