仏伝図|Scene from the Life of the Buddha

Unknown

early 15th century · Section of a wall panel mounted as a hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk · Asian Art

Here, the fundamental truth that suffering is the essence of life is charmingly conveyed in the story of the young prince's excursions from the palace, where he had enjoyed a sheltered life of plenty and pleasure. In the canonical iconography of the life of the Buddha, he first meets an old man, then a sick one, then a corpse, and finally an ascetic who inspires the prince to abandon life in the palace to seek the truth. However, in this work, a birth scene at the lower right replaces the customary meeting with the ascetic. The scene of a birth is rare and is probably based on the Lotus Sutra, which preaches four essential sufferings. The skillful brushwork employed for a tree in the upper left corner reflects Japanese artists' study of Chinese paintings and suggests a date in the early fifteenth century.

Artist

Unknown

Date

early 15th century

Medium

Section of a wall panel mounted as a hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Alvin Friedman-Kien, 1993