Vimalakirti

CHINA; Yuan dynasty

This painting depicts Vimalakirti, a devoted lay disciple of the Buddha, suffering from illness. According to the Vimalakirti Sutra, Vimalakirti declared that he was sick because all sentient beings are sick. After hearing of his illness, the Buddha asked Manjusri Bodhisattva and great disciples to visit Vimalakirti. During their visit, many profound dialogues on emptiness occurred.
The artist, Indara, was a monk who was prolific during the late Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). An inscription he wrote on his painting of Hanshan and Shide suggests that he was the abbot of Daguangjiao Chan Monastery in Kaifeng, China. Alternatively, the Kundaikan Sauchoki from Japan states that Indara was an Indian-born monk who lived in Zhongtianzhu Temple in Hangzhou, China.
Vimalakirti is roughly sketched with dark ink lines. The facial features are simplistic yet expressive, conveying both his suffering due to illness and his dignified acceptance of the situation. The robe is depicted with sparse, thick brushstrokes. Thick, rapidly applied strokes are painted around the face, an example of the “scorched ink” technique. In the upper left corner, there is an inscription by Chan Master Pumen.