Unknown - Quran - Chinese - 1760

A magnificent manuscript of rare cultural hybridity and devotional beauty from an 18th Century Chinese Qur'an (circa 1760), which contains scripture from the Meccan chapter 29, Surah Al-Ankabut (The Spider). The text is from verse 45 (advice to the Prophet), and forbids immorality and wrongdoing, arguing that genuine prayer will deter one from indecency and wickedness and that remembrance of God will be an even greater deterrent. It is one of Islam's most celebrated verses on the purpose of prayer. It is written in elegant Muhaqqaq script, characterised by bold left leaning extended upstrokes of the pen, well-spaced ligatures, and shallow and sweeping horizontal sublinear flourishes.

The script exemplifies Sini tradition - China's distinctive Islamic calligraphic style developed over centuries in the Muslim communities of Yunnan, Shaanxi and Gansu. It is noticeably bold and architecturally weighted, with thick. almost monumental strokes and sweeping terminals that are characteristic of the influence of Chines brush calligraphy. the letters sit with confident verticality, reflecting a synthesis of two great civilisations' writing traditions.

The left margin features three recurring motifs of significant symbolic resonance. The teardrop - known in Persia as buta), enclosing intricate golden floral hearts representing the cypress tree (an ancient symbol of eternal life; interlaced knots - suggesting infinity and the indivisibility of divine unity (Tawhid); and red dot accents serving as compositional anchors and echoes of diametrical marking within the Quranic text.

The framing of the text is exceptional in its densely geometric tellies border with its repeating star and polygon lattice work at the base, and its interlacing oval cartouche in burnished gold above the text. The centre portion contains an inscription (possibly its ownership) which is sadly faded so we are not able to place it. the multi-framing in gold, black and red, creates a hierarchical sacred space around the scripture.

This is a rare and culturally important manuscript of great beauty and would grace any collection.

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