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Zhenguo Temple Building of the Three Buddhas Murals
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Zhenguo Temple Building of the Three Buddhas Murals
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Zhenguo Temple Building of the Three Buddhas Murals
CHINA, Shanxi, Jinzhong; Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
These murals on the side walls of the Building of the Three Buddhas in Zhenguo Temple are thought to have been painted during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). They consist of 84 scenes from the Life of the Buddha within a landscape of mountains, meadows, rivers, and buildings. Many rarely illustrated stories are included in the murals. Each scene is labeled with an inscription. In Playing in the Forest, the seated Prince Siddhartha is surrounded by entertainers who dance, play a reed pipe, and spin plates. In the Place Where the Prince was Granted His Hat, Siddhartha kneels and joins his palms before his father, King Suddhodana. The king sits in front of a painted screen within a pavilion. Two young female attendants stand behind him holding fans. On the left, an official carrying an imperial court baton bows his head.
The scenes are similar to those painted in Chongshan Temple, suggesting that this was a popular way of depicting the Life of the Buddha at the time. The portrayal of the female figures represents a departure from the full-faced, rounded figures of the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties. |
