Todaiji Temple: Sudhana

JAPAN, Nara; Kamakura period

There are many paintings portraying Sudhana’s visits to great spiritual mentors, but this 14th century artwork is a rare depiction of Sudhana standing alone. According to the “Gandavyuha Chapter” of the Avatamsaka Sutra, Sudhana was the son of an elder in Dhanyakara. When he was born, treasures suddenly emerged from the ground, inspiring his parents to name him Sudhana (Child of Wealth). Eager to learn the Dharma, Sudhana sought out Manjusri Bodhisattva and was told to visit a series of spiritual mentors. He eventually met Samantabhadra Bodhisattva where he realized the non-arising nature and the emptiness of all phenomena.
Sudhana stands on a rock by the sea, gazing upwards, bowing, and joining his palms in reverence. His blue hair is bundled into two topknots tied with ribbons, and a golden nimbus encircles his head. Armlets, bracelets, and string ornaments adorn the body, and a stole is wrapped around the arms. The bright colors of the dhoti, stole, and nimbus stand out from the dark background.