Khara Khoto: Usnisavijaya Mandala

CHINA, Inner Mongolia, Alxa; Western Xia period

This late 12th or early 13th century mandala is painted on wood. Seated in full lotus position on a throne within a niche in the center of the mandala is Usnisavijaya, a manifestation of Vairocana Buddha. Usnisavijaya has a white body and three faces colored white, yellow, and blue, symbolizing the prevention of disasters, longevity, and the overcoming of sickness and injury. Each face has three eyes, which represent the ability to see into the past, present, and future. Usnisavijaya is flanked by the white Avalokitesvara and the blue Vajrapani. Two apsaras fly above the heads of the Bodhisattvas, and a kneeling figure is shown at the feet of Usnisavijaya’s throne.
These figures are surrounded by a circle made up of red, yellow, blue, and white lines. A patterned square representing a palace is drawn around the circle. Blue deities with three eyes and white stoles guard the four gates in the middle of the palace walls. Beside the gates and around the walls, there are symmetrical images of rams, makaras, lotuses, and the eight auspicious symbols. The outer rim of the mandala is made up of three concentric circles.
A male donor in Tangut costume stands with his palms joined within a cartouche in the bottom right corner. There is Tangut script written beside him. Another very similar mandala with an image of a single female donor in the bottom right corner is also kept in the State Hermitage Museum. The two mandalas are thought to be a set commissioned by a husband and wife.