Bao’en Temple Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion: Paying Respect to the Buddha (detail)
Bao’en Temple Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion: Paying Respect to the Buddha
CHINA, Sichuan, Mianyang; Ming dynasty
The side and back walls of the first and second stories of the Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion are decorated with murals that cover an area of 328 sq m. They were painted in 1446 during the construction of the temple and appear to be original, with no traces of modification. The murals contain over one hundred figures including Bodhisattvas, Heavenly Kings, Wisdom Kings, heavenly beings, monks, and devotees. The majority of the figures are shown with their palms joined paying respect to the Buddha. Clouds are painted in the background to create a majestic, heavenly atmosphere.
Sienna-colored ink was used to sketch the mural prior to the application of colored dyes. The ornaments, headdresses, and robes of the Bodhisattvas and heavenly beings are highlighted with asphalt powder and gold to give a bright, vivid appearance.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Painting A-H, page 90.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Youlu and Wilson, Graham and Manho and Mankuang and Huntington, Susan,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Painting A-H},
pages = 90,
title = {{Bao’en Temple Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion: Paying Respect to the Buddha}},
volume = 14,
year = {2016}}