Shakyamuni Emerging from the Mountains
1244
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1244
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Shakyamuni Emerging from the Mountains is a 1244 unspecified by Unknown, a Ming Painting work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
You see a thin, bearded man in simple robes walking out of misty mountains. His face is calm, almost blank, as if he’s just woken from a long dream. This painting shows the Buddha after years of harsh fasting—so skinny his ribs show—yet he looks completely at peace. The artist left out any drama; the quiet moment tells the whole story. If you like this quiet, thoughtful style, look up china, southern song dynasty (1127-1279).
Shakyamuni emerged from the mountains after years of ascetic practices, which anticipated his sermon in Deer Park and attainment of enlightenment under the bodhi tree. However, this figure of Shakyamuni can be interpreted as having already achieved enlightenment and reentered the earthly world to spread the dharma (Buddhist law). Chijue Daoching’s inscription mentions his indifferent glance at the morning star, suggesting nonattachment: Entering the mountains he was much too thin and withered. The snow is overlaid with frost—it is cold. Casting an indifferent glance, he saw a [morning] star.…
The painting was inscribed by the abbot of Jingde Temple 景德寺 of Mount Tiantong 天童山 near Ningbo 寧波.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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