page_title: Paradise of Bhaisajyaguru
section_title: Composition
hierarchical_section_title: Paradise of Bhaisajyaguru / Composition
caption_attribution_description: The Pure Land of Bhaisajyaguru, i.e. the Buddha of Medicine, a painting with a water-based pigment over a foundation of clay mixed with straw, dated to mid Yuan Dynasty (1271&#8211;1368) of China. The whole of this large wall mural was given to the Metropolitan Museum of Art as a gift by Arthur M. Sackler, in honor of his parents, Isaac and Sophie, in 1965.
context_page_description: Paradise of Bhaisajyaguru or Pure Land of Bhaisajyaguru is a painting during China’s Yuan Dynasty. This painting was originally housed in Guangsheng Lower Monastery, Zhaocheng County, Shanxi. The painting, which was at the eastern gable wall of the Main Hall of the monastery, was purchased by Arthur M. Sackler and later was given to Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, United States in 1954.
  This painting features the Bhaisajyaguru Buddha and two Bodhisattvas, Avalokitesvara and Chintamanichakra in the centre. Traditionally Bhaisajyaguru Buddha is considered as the Buddha of medicine in Mahayana Buddhism.
context_section_description: As it stand today, the wall painting measures 751.8 cm in height and 1511.3 cm in length. It is notable for its high level of detail. The painting features seated Bhaisajyaguru Buddha in an imagined heaven, surrounded by Bodhisattvas and gods. Usually, Bhaisajyaguru Buddha is depicted as an Indian figure. But in this Paradise of Bhaisajyaguru painting, all the figures are depicted with Chinese dresses and robes. Bhaisajyaguru Buddha is wearing a red robe. Buddha is flanked by two seated Bodhisattvas: Avalokitesvara and Chintamanichakra. Another four secondary Bodhisattva figures can be seen in the mural. Twelve warriors, six at each side in the painting symbolizes the Buddha’s vow to help others. This painting was formerly confused as the Assembly of Śākyamuni Buddha.
  Saptatathāgatapūrvapranidhānavisēsa Sūtra, a Buddhist sutta translated by Yi Jing (635-713), mentions that there were six predecessor Buddhas before Bhaisajyaguru. Small six Buddha images can be seen in the upper part of the painting. Central Bhaisajyaguru Buddha is holding a bowl in left hand symbolizing medicine. Bhaisajyaguru is considered as a Buddha of salvation and preventer of disasters in Mahayana Buddhism. Another important figures of the painting are the Bodhisattvas, Candraprabha and Suryaprabha. Candraprabha is the Bodhisattva who is holding a moon disk near Buddha’s right hand. Suryaprabha is holding a sun disk with a red bird in it near Buddha’s left hand.
caption: Mural as displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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