The elegant decoration on this brushpot makes it a very rare example among bamboo brush holders. It is finely carved with text from the Prajnaparamita sutra in regular script on a textured ground. The Prajnaparamita sutra, more popularly known as the ‘Heart Sutra’ and one of the most widely known Buddhist texts, advocates that one can achieve Enlightenment through realising the true emptiness of the world. Such an ideal fits with scholarly aspirations for a retreat from the material world. The brushpot was a common feature of the scholar’s studio and was made of a variety of materials including wood and jade. Bamboo however, was perhaps the most popular material as it is a symbol of integrity and resilience – virtues that a gentleman should possess.
