Embroidery of the Eight Medicine Buddhas

CHINA; Qing dynasty

This embroidery depicts the Eight Medicine Buddhas, one of whom is Sakyamuni Buddha. The central figure in deep blue wears a monastic robe covering both shoulders. The edges of the nimbus and mandorla are decorated with jewels and a flame pattern. In his left hand he holds a medicine bowl, while the right hand grasps a medicinal plant. He sits in full lotus position on a cushion with lotus petals of different colors. The other seven Medicine Buddhas are in the upper and lower registers. They look like the main image except for their mudras and the colors of their bodies. The central image in the lower register appears to be Sakyamuni Buddha holding a bowl in his left hand, and forming the bhumisparsa (earth-touching) mudra with the other.