Frontispiece of the Sutra on the Names of the Buddhas

CHINA; Later Liang dynasty

This is a frontispiece for a copy of the Sutra on the Names of the Buddhas. The sutra is composed of 35 pages, with small Buddha images between every chapter. An inscription at the end of the sutra names Cao Yuande, the son of Cao Yijin, as the patron who commissioned its production. There were several other copies of this sutra made, all dedicated to the well-being of the Cao family and the people of Shazhou.
The Buddha is seated in full lotus position on a lotus throne. He has narrow, shaded eyes, small lips, an urna in the middle of the forehead, and a tall usnisa. He wears a red monastic robe, and has a plain nimbus and a small aureole decorated with rings of color. A canopy topped with flaming jewels hangs above his head.