Sazigyo. Palm leaf manuscript binding. Burma – Myanmar

Sazigyo are Burmese tablet woven bindings that were used to bind palm leaf manuscripts. In these beautiful weaves, brightly colored lines of elegant writing alternate with fascinating miniature images of animals and other objects. The woven bands were commissioned by Buddhist donors who donated a scriptural manuscript to a monastery to gain spiritual merit and thus achieve a better rebirth and ultimately nirvana. The texts follow traditional conventions: they appeal to heavenly powers, identify the donors and call witnesses to share the merits of the donors.