Ma Xiaoxian

CHINA; Ming dynasty

Ma Xiaoxian was a painter from the Jiangnan (region south of the Yangtze River) who was renowned for his Buddhist images and vivid portrayals of flowers and figures. According to Brief Gazetteer of Lijiang, Ma was invited to Central Asia during the rule of Emperor Tianqi (reigned 1621–1627) of the Ming dynasty. During this time, he traveled to areas such as Yunnan, Tibet, and India to paint temple murals.
The murals he created in the temples of Lijiang, Yunnan, the majority of which are found in Dabaoji Palace and Liuli Hall, exhibit the integration of Chinese Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, and Daoism. Beginning in the early Ming dynasty (1368–1644), and lasting until the early Qing dynasty (1644–1911), the painting of these murals took a period of over 300 years to complete. Several Chinese, Tibetan, and Nakhi ethnic painters participated in the project, among whom, Ma was highly reputed.