Amitabha Buddha and the Eight Great Bodhisattvas

KOREA; Goryeo dynasty

This 14th-century artwork, commissioned by aristocratic patrons as a means of worship, is highly regarded among Buddhist paintings from the Goryeo dynasty. Amitabha Buddha sits in full lotus position on a throne, and is depicted with a usnisa, an urna between the eyebrows, half-closed eyes, thick lips, and a broad nose. The Buddha is dressed in a red monastic robe decorated with gold circular patterns. Below the throne, Avalokitesvara, Manjusri, Maitreya, and Vajrapani are shown on the left, and Mahasthamaprapta, Samantabhadra, Ksitigarbha, and Sarvanivarana Viskambhin are painted on the right. The Bodhisattvas wear ornate robes, headdresses, and ornaments. The painting is partly gilded, giving it a bright, lively appearance.