Samantabhadra is one of the four major Bodhisattvas in Chinese Buddhism, able to move and act, to do good in the world, to be everywhere and benefit all. In the painting, Samantabhadra is dressed in crimson red, and sit atop a lotus base in the padmasana position. He holds a lotus, on top which sits the Prajñāpāramitā sūtra script, to symbolize the wisdom of Prajñā is clean and pure. The inhabitants of the heavens and guardians wearing the gorgeous jade accessories are attending to him on the sides. He rides a six-tusked white elephant, and solemnly appears atop auspicious clouds.
Through fluid meticulous stokes, and good use of the highs and lows of the ink and chroma Xia Jing Shan is able to create a distinction between the host-guest relationship. The complex structure of the heavenly inhabitants’ and bodhisattvas’ clothing shows the solid foundation the artist possess in creating traditional figures, and in combination with his own imagination, interprets the holy scene as Samantabhadra goes forth to do good.
简中｜大行普贤菩萨
Paintings
Xia Jing Shan
colour on paper
177x95
2007
bj5544
