One thousand Buddhas

A central image of the Buddha seated on a lotus throne surrounded by one thousand miniature Buddhas, which represent the Buddhas who would appear in the world during a kalpa, an extraordinary long measure of time. This painting once belonged in a set of three nearly identical paintings, which represented the Buddhas of the past, present, and future kalpas.

Historical period(s)
Nanbokucho period, 14th century
Medium
Ink, color and gold on silk
Dimensions
H x W (image): 130.7 × 77.6 cm (51 7/16 × 30 9/16 in)
Geography
Japan
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1979.52
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Painting
Type

Hanging scroll

Keywords
Buddha, Buddhism, Japan, kakemono, lotus, mudra, Nanbokucho period (1333 - 1392)
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

A central image of the Buddha seated on a lotus throne surrounded by one thousand miniature Buddhas, which represent the Buddhas who would appear in the world during a kalpa, an extraordinary long measure of time. This painting once belonged in a set of three nearly identical paintings, which represented the Buddhas of the past, present, and future kalpas.

Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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