Illustrated Manuscript on the Meditation Methods of the Five Families

CHINA; Tang dynasty

This manuscript is thought to be a copy of a scroll that was originally painted in color by the Indian monk Subhakarasimha. The Japanese monk Enchin received the manuscript from his teacher, monk Faquan of Qinglong Temple in Chang’an (present day Xi’an, Shaanxi). The manuscript is thought to be the oldest extant scroll of Buddhist iconography, and was listed as a National Treasure of Japan in 1953.
The scroll depicts the meditation methods of the five families of the Diamond realm: Buddha, vajra, jewel, lotus and karma. The illustrations are based on the six mandalas described in the “Chapter on the Diamond Realm,” the first chapter of the Tattva Samgraha, a Sanskrit text brought to China from India by Subhakarasimha. A total of over 140 deities are depicted. Many of the deities are shown sitting within moon discs in the center section of the scroll. Chinese characters written beside the moon discs indicate the colors that the deities are meant to be painted. Sanskrit text, auspicious symbols, and mudras can be seen below the figures.
At the end of the scroll, the bearded Subhakarasimha is shown holding an incense burner and making offerings to the Buddhas. On the far left, there is an inscription written by Enchin. The fine lines used in the illustrations are characteristic of Tang dynasty line drawings.