Dayun Yuan Temple Amitabha Hall: Illustration of the Vimalakirti Sutra - Heavenly Being Scattering Flowers

CHINA, Shanxi, Changzhi; Later Jin dynasty

This image of an event described in the “Chapter on Observing Living Beings” in the Vimalakirti Sutra, is painted on the east wall of the Amitabha Hall. According to the sutra, when the distinguished lay disciple Vimalakirti fell sick, Bodhisattvas such as Manjusri, great disciples such as Sariputra, and heavenly beings came to visit him and discuss the Dharma. As Vimalakirti spoke, a female heavenly being revealed herself and started scattering flowers onto the assembled beings. The flowers dropped to the ground when they touched the Bodhisattvas, but stuck to the bodies of the disciples. All attempts by the disciples to use their supernatural powers to remove the flowers were unsuccessful. It is said that the flowers stuck to all those who had not fully realized the truth of non-duality.
In the painting, the hair of the heavenly being is tied in a topknot secured by a headdress. She wears a flowing, wide-sleeved dress. Her right hand carries a flower basket, while her left hand gently holds a flower. The hairstyle, clothing, and facial expression of the heavenly being give her the appearance of a noblewomen.