Painted Banner (Thangka) with the Medicine Buddha (Bhaishajyaguru)
1300
gold
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1300
gold
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
You see a tall, blue-skinned Buddha sitting on a lotus, hands holding a small jar and a sprig of leaves. Around him, six smaller Buddhas glow in a ring of golden light. The background is deep lapis blue, dotted with tiny white flowers. This banner was made to hang in a temple, not a palace. The gold isn’t paint—it’s real gold leaf pressed onto the cotton. That tells you someone wanted this to last, to feel sacred for centuries. To see how gold leaf works in other sacred art, look up the Art Institute of Chicago.
