Qing Imperial Palace: Tapestry of Sakyamuni Buddha

CHINA, Beijing; Qing dynasty

This tapestry was created during the rule of Emperor Qianlong (reigned 1736–1795) of the Qing dynasty and was originally kept in the collection of the Qing Imperial Palace.
Sakyamuni Buddha has curly blue hair with a small usnisa. Behind him there are a round nimbus and a mandorla, together with a peach-shape aureole surrounded by clouds. He wears an inner robe and a bright red outer robe with long, loose sleeves. Seated in full lotus position, his hands form the dhyana (meditation) mudra. The Buddha sits upon a lotus throne, which stands on a highly decorated, multi-layered Sumeru platform. Above, there is a multi-color canopy, on top of which there are phoenixes. Various small flowers are suspended in the sky, and a series of small lotuses comprise the border. Below the main image are depictions of the sea, mountains, and two dragons. Above the main image is an inscription, followed by vibrant dragons in the sky with a dark blue background.
The colorful tapestry is created using a combination of a color wash painting technique and Chinese silk tapestry. The fine details are highlighted in gold. There are various seals, including those of Emperor Qianlong.