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The Eight Medicine Buddhas
Tibetan
19th century
Object Place: Tibet
Medium/Technique
Distemper and gold on cotton mounted with silk brocades, wood dowels
Dimensions
Other (Image): 99 x 66cm (39 x 26in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Miss Lucy T. Aldrich
Accession Number47.83
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia
ClassificationsPaintings
DescriptionPainting in hanging scroll (thangka) format, with streamers, veil and decorative stitched borders.
A large central figure of Baisajyaguru with blue skin sits surrounded by the seven other Medicine Buddhas. The central figure has his right hand in varada mudra holding the stem of a myrobalan plant; his left hand holds a begging bowl containing myrobalan fruit. To his right and left are Bodhisattvas, each standing and holding the stem of a lotus, one with the solar disc, the other with the moon. At the top of the painting is a canopy with jewels, brocades, and scarfs. At the bottom, on the left is foliage with offerings of a mirror, conch, fruit, etc (representing the five senses) on the bottom right are the eight glorious emblems, including 2 fishes, chakra, eternity knot, umbrella, conch, vase, and standard.
A large central figure of Baisajyaguru with blue skin sits surrounded by the seven other Medicine Buddhas. The central figure has his right hand in varada mudra holding the stem of a myrobalan plant; his left hand holds a begging bowl containing myrobalan fruit. To his right and left are Bodhisattvas, each standing and holding the stem of a lotus, one with the solar disc, the other with the moon. At the top of the painting is a canopy with jewels, brocades, and scarfs. At the bottom, on the left is foliage with offerings of a mirror, conch, fruit, etc (representing the five senses) on the bottom right are the eight glorious emblems, including 2 fishes, chakra, eternity knot, umbrella, conch, vase, and standard.
InscriptionsOn reverse, in red ink, in Tibetan, "Om, Ah, Hum"
Provenance1947, Miss Lucy Aldrich, Providence, RI; 1947, gift of Aldrich to the MFA. (Accession Date: January 9, 1947)