Yunnan Prayer Tablet

Item #: 1918

Date: Yuan Dynasty (c. 1279-1368 CE)

Medium: Stone

Size: 29 ½” W x 26 ½” H (framed)

Description: Between five and ten percent of the stones inspected depict, exclusively, the Eight-Spoked Wheel, also known as a Dharmachakra. This form symbolizes Buddha’s Wheel of Law or Wheel of Truth, referring specifically to the eight paths to enlightenment, and the teachings of Buddha. The extensive Devanagari characters, more likely a chant, are an additional rarity. Most all of the stone tables appear to date to the Yuan and Ming Dynasties. There are some strong suggestions, however, that a small percentage of the tablets date to an earlier period.