Life of the Buddha - Return to Kapilavastu
Ink and color on paper
Life of the Buddha - Return to Kapilavastu
THAILAND
Taken from an Ayutthaya Kingdom (circa 1350–1767) Thai manuscript, this painting contains many detailed illustrations of scenes from the Life of the Buddha and, unique during that time, the Jataka tales. It is thought to have been brought to England by a Sri Lankan envoy who was an ambassador to Thailand during the mid-18th century.
The painting depicts the Buddha returning to his former home, Kapilavastu, to teach the Dharma to his family. The Buddha wears a monastic robe and stands on a lotus throne. The colored flames that surround his petal-shaped nimbus are a common feature of Thai Buddhist paintings. On the right, an attending disciple stands barefoot, holding a large bowl with both hands. Three figures kneel before the Buddha with palms joined in reverence. The man wearing a crown and ornaments is thought to be King Suddhodana, the Buddha’s father, while the two women on the left are believed to be Mahaprajapati and Princess Yasodhara. A palace with colorful spires is painted in the background.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Painting I-O, page 486.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Youlu and Wilson, Graham and Manho and Mankuang and Huntington, Susan,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Painting I-O},
pages = 486,
title = {{Life of the Buddha - Return to Kapilavastu}},
volume = 15,
year = {2016}}