Shanhua Temple Great Hero Hall Murals

CHINA, Shanxi, Datong; Qing dynasty

These Qing dynasty murals in the south-facing Great Hero Hall of Shanhua Temple were restored between 1708 and 1716. They were damaged again in 1736; only the murals along the west and south walls, occupying an area of 149.77 sq m, are preserved.
There are five murals on the west wall, believed to depict five of the nine assemblies described in the Avatamsaka Sutra. In the center of each mural, a Buddha sits in full lotus position and teaches the Dharma, flanked by two attendant Bodhisattvas. In the upper corners, Bodhisattvas, Dharma protectors, deities, and apsaras listen to the teachings. The height of Buddha figures ranges from 320 cm to 354 cm, while the attendant Bodhisattvas are 195 cm to 205 cm. The surrounding figures are between 45 cm and 126 cm high. In one of the murals, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is depicted wearing a golden headdress and holding a vase in the left hand and a willow branch in the right. In the mural on the far left side of the front wall, Six-Armed Cundi is flanked by two attendant Bodhisattvas and surrounded by other Bodhisattvas, disciples, and deities. On the far right side of the front wall, there is an image of Amitabha Buddha, Avalokitesvara, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattvas.
Almost two hundred different figures are portrayed within the hall. They are painted in rich colors augmented with gold dust highlights on their headdresses and jewelry. Although the appearance of the figures, their facial expressions, the lines, and the colors are all characteristic of Qing dynasty art, the large size of the figures is more typical of murals from the Liao (907–1125) and Jin (1115–1234) dynasties.