Chongfu Temple Amitabha Hall: Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara

CHINA, Shanxi, Shuozhou; Jin dynasty

This mural covers almost the entire right half of the south wall of Amitabha Hall. Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is portrayed with 18 heads arranged in pyramidal fashion. Amitabha Buddha sits on a lotus throne above the top head. Six hands are held in front of the chest forming numerous mudras. Below, more hands support a blue vase decorated with images of green nagas among waves and clouds. The rest of the thousand arms are arranged in the shape of a fan around the Bodhisattva’s body. The hands either form mudras or hold objects. There is an eye in the middle of each palm.
Vasu, Mahadevi, and two Dharma protectors stand beside the Bodhisattva. Vasu, depicted as an elderly man leaning on a cane, looks up at Avalokitesvara. Mahadevi, beautifully dressed in rich flowing garments and a headdress, joins her palms in front of her chest.