Frontispiece of the Lotus Sutra

CHINA; Song dynasty

This artwork is the frontispiece of a copy of the Lotus Sutra. Many scenes from the sutra are depicted, separated by clouds or bodies of water. On the right, there is an image of the Assemby at Vulture Peak, with Sakyamuni Buddha sitting on a lotus throne surrounded by Bodhisattvas, heavenly beings, and disciples. The figures sit upon a platform, with Vulture Peak clearly visible in the top right corner. Sakyamuni’s urna emits two large rays of waving light, extending up to the left.
The scene below the two rays of light illustrates the art of sculpting and painting Buddha images, as mentioned in the “Chapter on Skillful Means.” To the left of the sculptors, there are three carts, which represent the three parables from the “Chapter on Similes and Parables.” Moving further to the left, a pagoda with two Buddhas seated inside is shown beside a palace wall. This depicts the scene from the “Chapter on the Emergence of the Prabhutaratna Pagoda,” when a pagoda with Prabhutaratna Buddha seated inside emerges from the ground. He then invites Sakyamuni Buddha to sit with him so they can discuss the Dharma. The scene in the top corner on the far left illustrates the “Chapter on Encouraging Devotion.” A monk is seated on a platform, teaching the Dharma to three listeners, including Yasodhara. In the lower left corner, the figure riding an elephant is Samantabhadra, Avalokitesvara is seated on the edge of a cliff, and Manjusri sits within a large mandorla and floats above the sea.