Sacred Texts

Buddhism

Sutras, Dharma & Meditation

137 booksEnglish

Illustrations

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407 images extracted

Woodcut illustration of the Thousand-Hand Thousand-Eye Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva.

A detailed woodcut illustration of the Thousand-Hand Thousand-Eye Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin) Bodhisattva, a central figure in the Great Compassion Mantra. The deity is depicted with multiple heads and arms holding various symbolic objects, standing upon a lotus throne amidst celestial clouds and turbulent waves, representing the bodhisattva's infinite capacity to save all sentient beings.

woodcut
Woodcut illustration of a Buddhist deity, likely a guardian figure or a manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, standing amidst swirling clouds.

This woodcut depicts one of the eighty-four manifestations of Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin) as described in the Great Compassion Mantra. The figure is portrayed as a powerful guardian in ornate armor, standing atop auspicious clouds and framed by a simple halo, representing the protective aspects of Buddhist compassion.

woodcut
Polychrome woodcut illustration of a Buddhist narrative scene.

This vibrant polychrome woodcut illustrates a scene from a Buddhist narrative, likely the birth or early life of Siddhartha Gautama. The central infant figure is surrounded by celestial beings and attendants amidst a stylized landscape of swirling clouds and lush greenery. Such illustrations served to visually communicate sacred stories to a wide audience, combining artistic skill with religious devotion.

woodcut
A vibrant, hand-colored woodcut depicting a narrative scene with figures in a landscape of mountains, clouds, and a palace. A central figure on a white horse is shown departing from a walled compound.

This vibrant hand-colored woodcut illustrates a pivotal moment from a Buddhist narrative, likely the Great Departure of Prince Siddhartha as he leaves his father's palace to seek enlightenment. The scene is rich with symbolic elements, including auspicious multi-colored clouds and rugged mountains, rendered in a classic Ming Dynasty style. The meticulous hand-coloring enhances the narrative's spiritual and dramatic intensity, making it a significant piece of early modern Chinese book illustration.

woodcut
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60 works of visual art in this collection

The Eighteen Luohanspainting

The Eighteen Luohans

After Ding Yunpeng

A section of a handscroll depicting three of the Eighteen Luohans, or arhats, rendered in fine-line ink drawing.

Luohanpainting

Luohan

After Guanxiu

A painting depicting an elderly Luohan (arhat) accompanied by a young attendant in a wooded landscape.

Birth of the Buddha — Pala Dynastyobject

Birth of the Buddha — Pala Dynasty

Anonymous (Bengal, Pala dynasty)

The provided image displays a gold ring with a large, square-cut, faceted green gemstone, likely emerald or glass, and enameled details on the band.

Tantric Buddha Vairochana as Vajrasattvapainting

Tantric Buddha Vairochana as Vajrasattva

Anonymous (Central Tibet)

This painting depicts the central figure of Vairochana in the guise of Vajrasattva, seated in meditation with his hands in the dharmachakra mudra, surrounded by a retinue of bodhisattvas and other deities.

Buddha Amoghasiddhi with Eight Bodhisattvaspainting

Buddha Amoghasiddhi with Eight Bodhisattvas

Anonymous (Central Tibetan)

The central green-skinned Buddha Amoghasiddhi is depicted in a meditative posture, surrounded by eight Bodhisattvas in a structured mandala-like composition.

Mahakala, Protector of the Tentpainting

Mahakala, Protector of the Tent

Anonymous (Central Tibetan)

The wrathful deity Mahakala (specifically the two-armed Panjarnata form) stands centrally, surrounded by an entourage of secondary protective deities and lineage lamas.

Mandala of Raktayamaripainting

Mandala of Raktayamari

Anonymous (Central Tibetan)

A Tibetan Buddhist thangka depicting the mandala of the wrathful deity Raktayamari, featuring the central deity in union with his consort surrounded by four directional deities and various attendant figures.

Portraits of Two Lineage Masters of the Kagyu Orderpainting

Portraits of Two Lineage Masters of the Kagyu Order

Anonymous (Central Tibetan)

Two central Tibetan Kagyu lineage masters are depicted in a seated, frontal posture, engaged in a conversation or ritual exchange.

Tsong Khapa, Founder of the Geluk Orderpainting

Tsong Khapa, Founder of the Geluk Order

Anonymous (Central Tibetan)

A central, large-scale portrait of the Tibetan Buddhist teacher Tsong Khapa surrounded by a lineage of smaller figures, including deities and scholars.

Twenty-three Deity Nairatma Mandalapainting

Twenty-three Deity Nairatma Mandala

Anonymous (Central Tibetan, Sakya)

This painting depicts the Nairatma mandala, a complex geometric diagram housing twenty-three deities, with the blue-skinned, dancing deity Nairatma at the center, surrounded by her retinue of goddesses and attendant figures within a square palace structure.

Achala, King of the Wrathful Onespainting

Achala, King of the Wrathful Ones

Anonymous (Chinese, Southern Song)

A central, wrathful blue-skinned figure of Achala (Acala) holding a sword and lasso, standing upon two subjugated figures, surrounded by a frame of secondary deities.

Bodhisattva Khasarpana Lokeshvara — Pala Dynastyobject

Bodhisattva Khasarpana Lokeshvara — Pala Dynasty

Anonymous (Eastern India, Bihar)

The provided image displays a neoclassical or Renaissance-style enamel relief featuring a scene of classical figures, possibly representing Venus, Cupid, and attendants, which does not match the metadata provided for 'Bodhisattva Khasarpana Lokeshvara'.

Siddhartha at the Bodhi Tree — Gandharaobject

Siddhartha at the Bodhi Tree — Gandhara

Anonymous (Gandhara)

A schist fragment depicting a yakshi or female attendant figure, often associated with Buddhist narrative reliefs from Gandhara.

Bodhisattva — Gandharaobject

Bodhisattva — Gandhara

Anonymous (Gandhara, Kushan period)

This object is a small porcelain incense burner, likely of Chinese origin, characterized by its crackle glaze and side handles.

Scenes from the Life of Buddha — Gandhara Reliefobject

Scenes from the Life of Buddha — Gandhara Relief

Anonymous (Gandhara, Kushan period)

A fragmentary schist relief depicting the torso and limbs of the Buddha, showing his characteristic posture and soft, idealized physique.

+45 more works

From Song dynasty woodblock sutras to the Pali Canon. Mahayana scriptures, Zen koans, Tibetan Buddhist texts, and the earliest English translations that brought Buddhist thought to the West. Spanning the Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions.

137 books in this collection

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