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Text, folio 20 (verso) from a Gandavyuha-sutra (Scripture of the Supreme Array)

Unknown

1104

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Medieval Religious Nepal

Dominant colour

Text, folio 20 (verso) from a Gandavyuha-sutra (Scripture of the Supreme Array) is a 1104 unspecified by Unknown, depicting Nepal, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1104
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

You see a busy page from an old Buddhist book: tiny figures in bright robes climb mountains, cross bridges, and bow to teachers under swirling clouds. This isn’t just decoration. Each figure is Sudhana, a young seeker, meeting one of 52 teachers on his path to enlightenment. The same face appears again and again, showing how one person’s journey can loop through many guides. If you like stories told in pictures, look up more art from Nepal.

The story of this work

Overview

According to the text, the exemplary youth Sudhana was inspired to seek enlightenment after hearing the teachings of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. Manjushri sent him to find a teacher, who explained one aspect of reaching enlightenment, and who, in turn, sent him to find another, and on until he heard the teachings of 52 teachers and reached his goal.