Guangsheng Lower Temple Great Hero Hall: Medicine Buddha Assembly

CHINA, Shanxi, Linfen; Yuan dynasty

This mural, originally painted on the gables of the Great Hero Hall, was removed and brought to the USA in the 1920s. The Medicine Buddha is in the center of the mural, seated on a lotus throne beneath a canopy. The two large Bodhisattvas sitting on thrones on either side of the Buddha are believed to be Avalokitesvara on the left and Cintamanicakra on the right. Four smaller Bodhisattvas stand beside the Medicine Buddha: Suryaprabha is on the upper right holding a sun disc, Candraprabha is shown on the upper left holding a moon disc, Bhaisajyasamudgata, holding a medicine bowl, is on the bottom right, and Bhaisajyaraja, who holds a monk’s staff, is on the lower left. Two apsaras scattering flowers fly on either side of the canopy above the Buddha. Above them in the corners, there are two groups of three small Buddhas. On the sides of the mural there are depictions of heavenly beings including Brahma, Sakra, the Twelve Yaksa Generals, and Bodhisattvas. Smaller figures are shown kneeling and making offerings at the bottom of the picture.