明萬曆　木刻 《慈悲道場懺法》 卷第一|Sutra of the Repentance Ritual of Great Compassion (Cibei daochang chanfa), Volume 1

Unknown

1615 · Woodblock printed book · Asian Art

Printed sutras usually took the form of accordion-fold books, and they often featured an illustrated frontispiece. Legend states that the repentance ritual described in this sutra was instituted by Emperor Wu of Liang (464–549) to deliver his deceased wife from an unpleasant reincarnation as a python. This is the story depicted in the illustrated frontispiece, where a group of Buddhist monks industriously undertake the rituals prescribed in the sutra. The empress’s spirit floats free from the mouth of the snake, ascending heavenward on a cloud.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1615

Medium

Woodblock printed book

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Julia and John Curtis, in celebration of the Museum’s 150th Anniversary, 2020