Buddha and Disciples

CHINA; Ming dynasty

This picture was made by Cui Zizhong during the late Ming dynasty. It is one of several artworks by Cui that portray the Buddha as a middle-aged literary figure with a distinct usnisa and long hair parted in the center. The Buddha, wearing a monastic robe, is seated in full lotus position on a prayer mat. He is flanked by two attendants; one holding a whisk and the other carrying a bundle of Bodhi leaves. On the left, a monk is shown kneeling before the Buddha. Two trees with dense leaves rise up behind the figures. Pebbles and plants cover the ground in the lower register. Hazy mist hangs in the background. A postscript and a seal imprint by Cui can be seen in the bottom left corner.
The folds on the Buddha’s monastic robe are depicted with “gossamer-thin” lines, giving them the appearance of the long, waving strands of a spider’s web. The lines above and below each other all follow the same gentle curves and bends for a unified, harmonious effect. Several different kinds of lines are used to illustrate the robes of the attendants, the trees, the pebbles, and the plants. Cui gives the image diversity and depth through these variations in technique.