Topic: Buddhist images

[Nichi]

Pavilions of a Buddhist Paradise; Song dynasty, possibly 10th century

[Nichi]

Manjusri, Yuan Dynasty, Ecole chinoise. (1279-1368)

[Nichi]

Nirvana. Heian Period 12th century. Important Cultural Property, Tokyo National Museum.

http://www.tnm.jp/uploads/r_collection/LL_104.jpg

[Nichi]

Dainichi Nyorai: the sun Buddha, called Vairocana or Mahāvairocana; a celestial buddha who is often interpreted, in texts like the Flower Garland Sutra, as the Bliss Body of the historical Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama). In Chinese, Korean, and Japanese Buddhism, Vairocana is also seen as the embodiment of the Buddhist concept of Emptiness. In the conception of the Five Wisdom Buddhas of Vajrayana Buddhism, Vairocana is at the centre.

[Nichi]

Kshitigarbha.  Period: Goryeo dynasty (918–1392). Date: first half of the 14th century. Culture: Korea .

A compassionate bodhisattva who rescues sentient beings from descending into hell or purgatory, Kshitigarbha (Korean: Jijang) became enormously popular during the Goryeo period. A key figure in Pure Land Buddhism, Kshitigarbha was often depicted singly and in the guise of a monk—with a shaved head, wearing a monk’s robe, and holding his standard attributes, a staff and a wish-fulfilling jewel (cintamani). This exquisite scroll is a well-preserved example of Goryeo Buddhist painting. Some of its hallmarks are the deity’s graceful facial features and slender fingers, the red and green colors of the robe, and the sumptuously elegant gold decoration.

Very few Korean paintings made prior to the fourteenth century survive. Buddhist paintings of the Goryeo dynasty are renowned for their delicacy and refinement. Most, if not all, were commissioned by members of the royal family and the aristocracy and were painted by monk-painters or professional court painters. ~The Met

http://images.metmuseum.org/CRDImages/as/original/DT5212.jpg

[Michael]

very calming

[erik]

[Nichi]

From the Jataka Tales (the Lives/Incarnations of the Buddha). Mahasattva offers his life to feed a starving tigress and her cubs.


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1122582554452406&set=a.101782853199053.904.100001020153131&type=3&theater

The Hungry Tigress

Once there was a great king named Maharatha and he had three fine
sons, Mahapranada, Mahadeva and Mahasattva. As they walked in the
forest one day, the three princes came upon a tigress and her seven
cubs. Exhausted by hunger and thirst, the tigress was hardly able to
move and looked as if she would soon die. The three brothers were
greatly disturbed by the sight of this poor tigress and wondered what
they could do. Of the three, Mahasattva was moved to great
compassion and asked his brothers to leave him a while.

When they were gone, Mahasattva laid himself down in front of the
tigress, hoping she would feed and drink on his body. But she was too weak.
Realizing this, Mahasattva took a piece of sharp bamboo and slit
his own throat, making it easy for the tigress to feed on his blood and
thereafter eat his flesh."

(Tales from Jataka)

[Nichi]

The Buddha Vairochana Presiding over the Cosmic Axis, Panel from a Buddhist Ritual Crown. Date: early 14th century. Culture: Central Tibet

Click/enlarge for best view from the Met:
http://images.metmuseum.org/CRDImages/as/original/DP12791-001.jpg

[Doubting Thomas]

Red thangka of White Tara.
I saw it in a dream. It was on the ground and somebody had stepped on it. I picked it up, straightened it and put it into my pocket.

[Michael]

Gorgeous