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Scenes from the Life of Buddha Shakyamuni, Covers of an Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom in 8,000 Verses)12th century

Not on view
Two long, narrow painted wooden panels with vermillion-orange grounds, each densely populated with small narrative figures in gold, white, cobalt blue, and green, showing continuous ceremonial or religious scenes
Two horizontal illustrated manuscript cover boards with vivid orange-red ground, depicting multiple figures in sequential narrative scenes including seated and standing deities, attendants, and a stupa, rendered in red, yellow, blue, and white with fine linear brushwork.
Manuscript painting on a red ground, depicting several figures in flat South Asian style; a kneeling bearded figure in supplication before two standing figures holding a staff and a bird, with a white stupa on a lotus base at left and small animals at right; flaking pigment visible throughout.
Horizontal manuscript painting on an orange ground; a central seated figure with ushnisha on a throne, flanked by two standing attendants in red robes, with two prostrate figures at the outer edges; flat bold outlines and bright mineral pigments in a Pala-period style.
Illuminated manuscript panel in red, orange, and teal; a seated Buddha figure in lotus position is sheltered by a multi-headed serpent, flanked by two attendant figures holding offerings, rendered in flat South Asian style with bold outlines.
Illustrated manuscript folio with vivid red ground, depicting a reclining figure on a decorated platform surrounded by standing and seated attendants, including two green-skinned figures; flat, linear painting style with red, blue, and gold pigments.
Manuscript painting on a vibrant orange-red ground depicting five multi-armed divine figures in a horizontal register, rendered in red, green, yellow, and white pigments with fine outlines; figures wear elaborate jewelry, crowns, and patterned garments, and hold various attributes including a trident and vessel.
Illuminated manuscript panel with opaque pigments on a vivid red ground, depicting a procession of multi-armed divine and human figures in yellow, blue, and patterned garments, with a flowering tree at left; flat stylized figures with large eyes characteristic of Western Indian manuscript painting.
Illuminated manuscript leaf with red ground, depicting a central seated Buddhist figure with green halo in orange robes, surrounded by multiple attendant and demonic figures in dynamic poses, rendered in flat opaque pigments with fine linear detail.
Illustrated manuscript folio with vivid orange-red background, depicting three figures: a seated figure in orange robes with a halo holding a bowl at left, a thin standing figure gesturing near a brick structure at center, and an ornately crowned figure emerging from clouds at right, rendered in flat opaque pigments with fine linear detail.
Artist or Maker
Unknown
Title
Scenes from the Life of Buddha Shakyamuni, Covers of an Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom in 8,000 Verses)
Place Made
Nepal, Kathmandu Valley
Date Made
12th century
Medium
Opaque watercolor on wood
Dimensions
2 1/8 x 22 1/8 x 1/2 in.; 5.4 x 56.2 x 1.3 cm
Credit Line
From the Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Museum Associates Purchase
Accession Number
M.77.19.1a-b
Classification
Manuscripts
Collecting Area
South and Southeast Asian Art
Curatorial Notes

The Eight Great Miracles in the life of the Buddha Shakyamuni are illustrated on these covers, although the episodes are not those commonly depicted. The artist arranged the scenes in non-chronological order, except for the scene of the Buddha’s death, which is at the end of the second cover. On the top cover, the Miracle at Sankisa (or Samkisya) is followed by the birth of the Buddha, his first seven steps, the victory over Mara, and the offering of honey to the Buddha in the Parileyyaka Forest. On the bottom cover, the Buddha tames the elephant Nalagiri, performs miracles at Shravasti, is sheltered by the serpent Muchalinda, and attains Final Enlightenment (mahaparinirvana).

Although the colophon to the non-illustrated manuscript once associated with these covers is dated 174 (1054 CE), stylistic analysis indicates they were most likely painted during the 12th century when many earlier manuscripts in the Kathmandu Valley were provided with new covers. The Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom in 8,000 Verses) is one of the most basic texts of Mahayana Buddhist philosophy. It was often commissioned and copied by pious Buddhists in India and Nepal.


Selected Bibliography
  • Pal, Pratapaditya; R. Brown; R. Fisher; G. Kuwayama; Amy G. Poster. Light of Asia: Buddha Sakyamuni in Asian Art. ed. Dean, Lynne. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1984.
  • Brown, Waka Takahashi. "Life of Buddha" class lesson. Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education, Spring 2002.
  • Kramrisch, Stella. The Art of Nepal. New York: The Asia House Inc., 1964.
  • Rosenfield, John. The Arts of India and Nepal: The Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection. Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1966.
  • Pal, Pratapaditya. Art of Nepal. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art; University of California Press, 1985.
  • Brown, Robert L. "Telling the Story in Art of the Monkey's Gift of Honey to the Buddha." Bulletin of the Asia Institute New Series/23 (2009): 43-52.