Gongzhu Temple Great Hero Hall: Water and Land Dharma Service Murals

CHINA, Shanxi, Xinzhou; Ming dynasty

These murals, covering the four walls of the Great Hero Hall, are painted for the Water and Land Dharma Service. A total of 470 figures are shown, most accompanied by identifying inscriptions within cartouches. These figures are grouped into the upper and lower halls. The upper hall consists of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Sravakas, Wisdom Kings, heavenly beings, and Dharma protectors. Beings from the six realms of existence are painted in the lower hall.
Maitreya Buddha is illustrated on the north wall of the Great Hero Hall, accompanied by Amitabha Buddha, Amoghasiddhi Buddha, and the Eight Wisdom Kings. Vairocana Buddha, Avalokitesvara, Mahasthamaprapta, Manjusri, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas are painted on the east wall. In front of the Buddha is the kneeling Sariputra, flanked by Brahma, Sakra, and two warriors. Arhats, Surya, Candra, Devagarbha Bodhisattva, the Deities of the Five Mountains, and heavenly beings representing the constellations surround the Buddha.
The west wall features Amitabha Buddha flanked by two Bodhisattvas with Sacred Mother of Heaven and Sacred Mother of Earth at the corners. The Buddha is accompanied by a multitude of figures including Heavenly Emperor Xuantian, Unhindered Power and Virtue Bodhisattva, Hariti, Deities of the Five Powers, Yama, the Twelve Zodiac Deities, the Nine Luminaries, and the Bodhisattvas of the Ten Dwellings. On the south wall there is an illustration of the Bodhisattva as a Guide who leads deceased beings to the Pure Land, and images of human figures from all walks of life, including kings, queens, concubines, officials, warriors, and filial descendants.
The orchid-leaf technique is primarily adopted to delineate the images, and complimentary methods of iron-wire, nail-head, and rat-tail are employed. Colorful clouds are painted in the background. The images are brightly colored and vivid. The colors are primaily vermilion and yellow, and the color tones tend to be warmer in comparison with temple murals from the Jin (1115–1234) and Yuan (1271–1368) dynasties which are mainly green in color. Gilt is applied to the headdresses, jade belts, clothing, and armor of some of the figures, adding a decorative effect to the murals.