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Dongwenshu Temple Great Hero Hall: Water and Land Dharma Service Murals
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Dongwenshu Temple Great Hero Hall: Water and Land Dharma Service Murals
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Dongwenshu Temple Great Hero Hall: Water and Land Dharma Service Murals
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Dongwenshu Temple Great Hero Hall: Water and Land Dharma Service Murals
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Dongwenshu Temple Great Hero Hall: Water and Land Dharma Service Murals
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Dongwenshu Temple Great Hero Hall: Water and Land Dharma Service Murals
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Dongwenshu Temple Great Hero Hall: Water and Land Dharma Service Murals
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Dongwenshu Temple Great Hero Hall: Water and Land Dharma Service Murals
CHINA, Shanxi, Xinzhou; Qing dynasty (1644-1911)
These murals are painted on the side walls of the Great Hero Hall of Dongwenshu Temple. The Water and Land Dharma Service was conceived of by Emperor Wu (reigned 502-549) of the Liang dynasty, who dreamed of a monk telling him of a way to ease the immeasurable sufferings of sentient beings by holding a special Dharma service, inviting enlightened beings and making offerings. According to the Records of Origin on Things and Affairs, the service was first performed in 508 in Jinshan Temple, while the Chronicle of the Buddha and Patriarchs dates the first service to 505.
The images on the walls are divided into distinct sections. Next to the door and below the window on the south wall, there are depictions of the triumph envoy, the Buddha of the Mind, and the temple where the first service was held. These images are commonly seen in Water and Land scroll paintings, but are rarely found in murals.
In the bottom section of the image of the six realms of existence, there is a red circle containing the Chinese character for mind." Beside it on the right |
