Fahai Temple Great Hero Hall: Brahma, Sakra, and Heavenly Beings

CHINA, Beijing; Ming dynasty

These images are painted on both sides of the north wall of Great Hero Hall. The portrayal of the figures is based on several sources. The Golden Light Sutra and the Vajrasekhara Sutra give specific details on the appearances of the figures and how they should be arranged. In the Song dynasty (960–1279), Shen Huan’s Historical Biography of the Deities and Xing Ting’s Biography of the Deities gave further instructions for illustrating such figures.
The 19 figures painted on the right mural include: Brahma on the far left, Dhrtarastra Heavenly King of the East, Virudhaka Heavenly King of the South, Mahesvara, Mahadevi, Surya, Marici, Prthivi, Skanda, and Sagara. On the left mural, there are images of Sakra, Vaisravana Heavenly King of the North, Virupaksa Heavenly King of the West, Bodhidruma, Sarasvati, Candra, Hariti, Sajjneya, Guhyapati, and Yama.
The male figures are portrayed as kings or warriors, while the females are shown in the form of a queen or a female heavenly being. Brahma appears as a king holding a lotus in his hand. There are three female heavenly beings at his side holding a vase, a platter, and a canopy. Sakra is shown in the form of a queen, standing with her palms joined respectfully and accompanied by three female heavenly beings holding a platter of flowers, rocks, and a canopy. Skanda, Guhyapati, Sajjneya, and the Four Heavenly Kings are portrayed as warriors with individual expressions that suggest their characteristic dispositions. Marici, Mahesvara, and Sarasvati also appear as female heavenly beings, each with their own unique attributes. Marici has eight arms and three faces, with three eyes for each face. Mahesvara has eight arms and three eyes. Sarasvati, also called the heavenly being of music, is described in the Golden Light Sutra as having a majestic appearance with eight arms. In this painting she is depicted taming wild animals with music; a lion, a tiger, and a wolf stand beside her.
The composition of each mural is crowded yet orderly. Twenty different deities are shown, each portrayed in their own distinctive manner, but all organized together in a dynamic and balanced scene. The figures are elegantly illustrated and are outlined with fine brushstrokes. The clothing and accessories are illustrated with meticulous decorative effects and patterns.