Shakyamuni under the Bodhi Tree
1625
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1625
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Shakyamuni under the Bodhi Tree is a 1625 unspecified by Unknown, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
You see a golden Buddha sitting cross-legged on three horned demons under a leafy tree. The demons look uncomfortable, but the Buddha stays calm, hands resting in his lap. This painting comes from Ming China, where artists often mixed Buddhist stories with local ideas about good and evil. The demons here don’t match usual Buddhist art—they look more like Chinese folk monsters. The artist might have wanted to show how even evil can support enlightenment. To see more art like this, look up china, ming dynasty (1368–1644).
The historical Buddha Shakyamuni is seated in meditative posture upon the backs of three demons under the bodhi tree, where he achieved enlightenment. All three demons have horns like devils, and two have green skin. While they accommodate the Buddha, his weight seems to keep them under control. Since the Buddha’s hands do not conform to any accepted gesture, the specific religious event portrayed is unclear.
The blue-green style and grotesque goblins suggest an otherworldly sphere.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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