Embroidery of Diamond Sutra Pagoda
Silk
Embroidery of Diamond Sutra Pagoda (detail)
Embroidery of Diamond Sutra Pagoda
CHINA; Qing dynasty
This embroidery was created during the rule of Emperor Qianlong (reigned 1736–1795) of the Qing dynasty. The image of a seven-story pagoda, outlined in gold, is formed by the text of the Diamond Sutra, embroidered onto thick silk. The Diamond Sutra begins on the top story and is written from right to left.
On the first story, Subhuti can be seen receiving the teaching of the Diamond Sutra from the Buddha. Each of the other six stories has a niche with either a stupa or a seated Buddha with hands formed in the meditation mudra. Flaming jewels and hanging rings decorate the eaves of the multi-tier roofs. The spire consists of stacked rings surmounted by the finial in the form of flaming jewels. The entire pagoda stands on a Sumeru base.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts, page 73.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Youji and Pokorski, Stefanie and Mankuang and Fan, Wen,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts },
pages = 73,
title = {{Embroidery of Diamond Sutra Pagoda}},
volume = 18,
year = {2016}}