Shakyamuni Buddha 1440 - 1470

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This 15th-century Tibetan thangka painting depicts Shakyamuni Buddha, the historical Buddha, in a seated meditation posture. The central figure is surrounded by numerous smaller figures, including bodhisattvas, deities, and protectors. This vibrant artwork, characterized by rich colors and intricate details, embodies the devotional and symbolic nature of Tibetan Buddhist art. The composition and iconography reflect the complex cosmology and spiritual teachings of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The artwork serves as a powerful reminder of the Buddha's enlightenment and the potential for all beings to achieve liberation.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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The golden, radiant body of the Buddha is depicted at the moment of his enlightenment in this stunning thangka (painting). He wears a patchwork monastic robe and carries a begging bowl, both of which he adopted after choosing asceticism over his former princely life. His right hand reaches for the earth, and a raised golden halo surrounds his head and body. Two bodhisattvas stand at either side of his lotus petal throne. He is surrounded by lineage masters, many of whom gesture in lively debate. A line of protective deities appears at the bottom, along with the monk Xuanzang, who walks next to his tiger companion and an emanation of the red cosmic Buddha, Amitābha, who is associated with the West. Xuanzang was a Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled to India in the seventh century and wrote about his journeys there.