Dajue Temple: Buddha and Disciples in Procession

CHINA, Jiangsu, Yixing

This 198 m long painted relief is located on the wall south of the main temple gate at Dajue (Great Awakening) Temple in Yixing, Jiangsu. Under the direction of the founder of the Fo Guang Shan Monastery, Master Hsing Yun, this work was sculpted by Xie Jingqiang and colored by Chen Mingqi. The relief illustrates the daily morning alms procession that Sakyamuni Buddha undertook during his 49 years of teaching. It is a practice that enables generosity from alms givers, who in turn benefit as they advance on the path to enlightenment.
he image is centered on the Buddha, who leads a group of 1,250 monks as they walk from the forest to the busy town. Each monk carries an alms bowl. People of different ages and classes gather with all kinds of offerings, including water, fruit, lights, and flowers. They join their palms in reverence, and some bow and kneel respectfully to welcome the Buddha. Birds and animals follow the monastics as they proceed serenely through the forest.
In the upper register whispy clouds linger in the sky, while heavenly beings watch protectively from above. There are also floating apsaras, who bring with them gifts of flowers, dance, and music.