Frontispiece of the Diamond Sutra
Print on paper
Frontispiece of the Diamond Sutra
KOREA; Goryeo dynasty
This frontispiece, printed from a wood block, was listed as Treasure No. 877 in 1986. Two figures are shown seated side by side. On the right is Sakyamuni Buddha, identified by the cartouche beside him. The Buddha is seated on a lotus throne. One of his hands is raised in front of his chest while the other is placed upon his knee. Above him, there are lines of radiating light and a canopy. A Dharma protector stands to the right of the Buddha’s throne.
The cartouche beside the figure on the left identifies him as Patriarch Jeokjo Bohye. He is seated on a rectangular platform with his monastic shoes placed on a footstool below him. Above his nimbus, there are lines of light and a pagoda. A garuda stands on the left holding a banner.
The small figure kneeling on a carpet between the two main figures is Subhuti, whose dialogue with the Buddha makes up the text of the Diamond Sutra. At the top of the image, two apsaras float above the cartouches.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Painting A-H, page 262.
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 = 262,
title = {{Frontispiece of the Diamond Sutra}},
volume = 14,
year = {2016}}