Samantabhadra, one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas in Chinese Buddhism, is associated with ethics and virtue and is seen standing on Gautama Buddha’s retinue's right. In this portrait, Samantabhadra is depicted holding a jade scepter and sitting semi-cross-legged in a pallaṅka position on a six-tusked white elephant. The white elephant symbolizes determination and strength, and the six tusks represent the Six Perfections (paramitas) -- generosity, moral ethics, patience, diligence, contemplation, and wisdom.
This portrait is depicted by Xia Jing Shan using heavy colored ink, with exquisite details on the Bodhisattva’s garment, scepter, and the white elephant meticulously depicted. The image of Samantabhadra described in The Lotus Sutra is portrayed in Central Asian style and is one of the more unique interpretations in Xia’s oeuvre of bodhisattva paintings.
简中｜普贤菩萨
Paintings
Xia Jing Shan
color on paper
138.4X73.2
2012
題跋：南無普賢大願王菩薩。佛法是福慧雙修，所以善業是修前修行的一地：地一切之基礎。佛為憐憫眾生，為明心見性之一大事因緣，出現於世教化眾生，說法四十九年，請經三百餘會，目的就是要眾生悟入佛的知見，依教奉行，離生死苦，渡煩惱流，以達涅槃彼岸，以究竟佛果菩提。荊山拜題。印記：如意、夏氏荊山藏畫、夏氏聖像萬法、夏荊山佛學典藏之寶、南無阿彌陀佛、佛光普照、楠竹居士、夏光樺印、荊山藏畫、南無消災延壽藥師佛
BO-00056-EL
