Illustration of the Mahaparinirvana Sutra

CHINA; Ming dynasty

This painting illustrates the description in the Epilogue to the Mahaparinirvana Sutra that tells of the Buddha reclining on his right side facing the west as he enters into parinirvana in the middle watch of the night.
The red moon in the upper-left corner of the painting indicates that it is night time. In the center of the painting, the Buddha, preparing to enter parinirvana, lies on his right side upon a blue blanket beneath two blooming sala trees. He is surrounded by many mourning disciples. Heavenly beings standing on clouds and creatures rising from the sea come to pay their respects. The figures stand within a beautifully painted landscape of trees, rocks, water, and clouds.
This painting is attributed to Wu Bin, a Ming dynasty (1368–1644) painter; however the appearance of the figures differs from the exaggerated characters in his paintings of the Sixteen Arhats.