Lotus Sutra, 1420, Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Woodblock print on paper. Museum Purchase © 2001-2014 The Peabody Essex Museum.

Lotus Sutra, 18th century, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Ink on paper. Museum Purchase © 2001-2014 The Peabody Essex Museum.

The Lotus Sutra proclaims itself to be the Buddha’s ultimate teaching. First compiled at the end of the second century, the Lotus Sutra, has been printed and hand copied innumerable times. In these two examples, the brush’s movement and modulation is as apparent in the earlier Imperial printed copy (top) as it is in the manuscript, despite the fact that a brush was not employed in the creation of the woodblock printed version.