Daxian Temple Great Hero Hall: Illustration of the Great Compassion Dharani Sutra

TAIWAN, Tainan

Painted on the wall behind the Buddha niche at the Great Hero Hall of Daxian Temple, this huge mural by the famous artist Pan Li-Shui depicts 88 deities, representing the 88 phrases of the Great Compassion Dharani Sutra. The original sutra contains 84 phrases. During the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), four more deities were added to the sutra illustration, making a total of 88 deities. Such depictions were prevalent along the south-eastern coast of China, and this mural is based on the sutra illustration from Putuoshan.
Three-Headed, Eighteen-Armed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is in the center of the mural, sitting in full lotus position on a lotus throne. The hair of the main head is tied into two knots above a golden crown. Flame patterns surround the mandorla. Two of the palms are joined in front of the chest, while below them are another pair of hands supporting a small golden stupa. The two upper hands hold up a Buddha image. Moving from top to bottom, the pairs of hands hold discs inscribed with the Chinese characters for “sun” and “moon,” a banner and a lotus flower, a vajra and a sword, an alms bowl and a willow branch, and a bow and an arrow. The two remaining hands form mudras.
Six of the 88 deities can be seen standing to the left and right of Avalokitesvara. Beside each deity there is a phrase written in ink. The figures are carefully drawn and brightly colored. Gold plating is used to accentuate the details, making the mural shine.