drawing; 圖畫(Chinese) BM-1919-0101-0.173

Period:Tang dynasty Production date:851-900 (circa)
Materials:paper, 紙 (Chinese),
Technique:drawn, 手繪的 (Chinese),
Subjects:buddha 佛 (Chinese)
Dimensions:Height: 44.80 centimetres Width: 43.20 centimetres

Description:
Drawing of a maṇḍala with the five dhyani (meditation) Buddhas, symbolic of the five cosmic elements: identifiable as Vairocana (centre), Amitābha (top), Ratnasambhava (left), Amoghasiddhi (right) and Aksobhya (bottom). Ink on paper.
IMG


Comments:Zwalf 1985The Dhyāni Buddhas Amitābha (top), Ratnasambhava (left), Amoghasiddhi (right) and Aksobhya (bottom) alternate with four Bodhisattvas with lamps and flowers; Vairocana occupies the centre. At the compass points, each with an animal, are four ‘vajra’ guardians wreathed in flames. Notable is the early depiction of the ‘ba ji xiang’ (Eight Emblems of Good Augury), two at each corner, on pedestals. During the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), when China was open to considerable Lamaistic influence, these emblems were manufactured in metalwork and porcelain for use on altars.