Images

The frontispiece in gold and silver of the Amitabha sutra showing a scene in paradise. Goryeo Dynasty, Korea, 1341 CE. (The British Museum, London)

A soapstone Buddhist stele from the Unified Silla Kingdom of Korea. From the Piamsa Temple. The scene depicts Buddha and disciples with apsaras looking on. Height: 40 cm, c. 673 CE. (National Museum of Korea, Seoul, South Korea)

A giant granite statue of Maitreya (Miruk) Buddha, Gwanchoksa Temple, Korea. Height: 18.1 m, Goryeo period, 10-11th century CE.

A detail of a gilt bronze statue of the Maitreya (coming) Buddha. Three Kingdoms Period, Korea, c. 600 CE. Height: 80 cm. (National Museum of Korea, Seoul, South Korea)

The Papyrus Lansing is an anthology of texts praising the profession of the scribe, dating to the New Kingdom of Egypt.

Prayer to Thoth for skill in writing. The prayer is written in hieratic script, found at Thebes sometime prior to c. 1830 CE, and purchased by the British Museum in 1839 CE from the collector Giovanni Anastasi.

An illustration of Cunda (Chunda) preparing the last meal for the Buddha. (Wat Kasatrathiraj, Ayutthaya)

Stele of Minnakht, chief of the scribes, 14th century BCE. (Louvre Museum, Paris)

A sheet of papyrus with an extract from the Egyptian 'Tale of Two Brothers' (Papyrus D'Orbiney). 19th Dynasty, 1185 BCE. (British Museum, London)

Example of a Tamil Brahmi inscription carved on rock found at Dakshinachitra, Chennai (southern India)