Qing Imperial Palace: Embroidery of the Western Pure Land

CHINA, Beijing; Qing dynasty

Precisely illustrating the scene described in the Amitabha Sutra, this depiction of the Western Pure Land is embroidered on a plain silk background. In the center, Amitabha Buddha sits in a pavilion, flanked by Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattvas, who are also in pavilions. Amitabha has a square face and blue hair with a usnisa. He sits in full lotus position under a canopy wearing a red robe covering both shoulders. The Bodhisattvas wear jeweled crowns and celestial garments. Under the triad, there stand a number of Bodhisattvas and disciples. At the top, there is a majestic palace, from which light radiates with small Buddha images and another palace.
Above the embroidery are inscriptions written in Chinese, Manchu, Tibetan, and Mongolian, together with the seals of Emperor Qianlong (reigned 1736–1795) of the Qing dynasty.