{"product_id":"the-taima-mandala-circa-1700-1750-an-extravagantly-and-masterfully-produced-painting-of-sukhavati-the-western-pure-land-with-extensive-usage-of-gold-leaf","title":"The Taima Mandala, Circa 1700-1750. An Extravagantly and Masterfully Produced Painting of Sukhavati, the Western Pure Land, With Extensive Usage of Gold Leaf","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eTitle: The Taima Mandala, Circa 1700-1750. An Extravagantly and Masterfully Produced Painting of Sukhavati, the Western Pure Land, With Extensive Usage of Gold Leaf\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Very Good\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eAn extravagantly and masterfully produced Early to Mid Edo Period, 18th century painting of the Taima Mandala, otherwise known as Sukhavati, the Western Pure Land.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eAlthough Taima Mandalas are often known for their beautiful detailing and illumination, this example is one of the finer examples I have studied, and certainly one of the more extravagantly illuminated ones, even for the Edo Period. Every single figure, animal, building, and border has been spared no expense, and is beautifully detailed and brightly shining. Even the border text has been written in gold ink against an indigo background, to mimic early sutra texts on indigo dyed paper.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eIt is extremely comparable to the example held at MFA Boston, item 26169, dated 1749, from the mandorlas and halos, and shaping of the Amida and Bodhisattvas, to the small text boxes next to those newly enlightened figures arriving to Paradise, and even the border illustrations are relatively comparable. Also for additional comparison is item 45594 at the MET, dated 1750. The depiction of the Admia with the Buddhist swastika is also extremely similar to the depiction found in Dokutan Shōei’s printed Mandala of the late 17th to early 18th century.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eThe box has an inscription dated 33 Meiji, or 1900, though I’m not sure if this is a donation date to a temple, or a date when the mandala itself was remounted onto the hanging scroll.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eThe Taima Mandala is an 8th century Mandala that depicts Sukhavati, the Western Pure Land, with the Buddha Amitābha, originally created around 763 AD, and is currently kept at the Taima-dera temple in Nara. Since then, many copies have been made as well as commentaries and texts such as this one regarding the mandala.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eAlthough the term mandala is used, it is unrelated to the two realm mandalas of the Taizokai and Kongokai of esoteric Buddhism. The name Pure Land Mandala is a popular name borrowed from the name of an image in esoteric Buddhism, and the official name in modern times is Jodo Hensozu.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eAn extraordinarily detailed image, the Mandala is broken down as such:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eThe mandala depicts Sukhavati, the Pure Land of the west. The left, right, and lower borders are lined with images and text from the Contemplation Sutra. The central image, also entitled the Court of Essential Doctrine, depicts the Amida Buddha surrounded by numerous worshippers and followers who have reached the stage of enlightenment. Around them is the beautiful land and the many buildings existing in Paradise. To the top are many other figures floating in the sky on cloud, each having the special characteristic of a mandorla or halo behind their heads, further signifying and pointing to their enlightenment. There are also birds flying about, as well as floating scarves, and lotus flowers, all gravitating towards the central image.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eBelow the floating figures are images of buildings that look to be floating temples or palaces in the sky, leading down to an indoor garden surrounded by more heavily ornate buildings, emulating Chinese palace designs of the Tang Dynasty. Dotting the palace grounds and surroundings are more enlightened figures in states of meditation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eIn the very center of this image is a dock in the middle of a lotus pond. On this dock, are three central figures, larger than the rest. The centered figure is the Amida Buddha, and the flanking figures, bodhisattvas. These two figures are the bodhisattva Kannon and Seishi.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eIn the dock pond itself are boats and lotus flowers, where see many figures being born from the lotus flowers being those who have attained enlightenment and are being welcomed into the Western Paradise. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eThe left border (the Court of Prefatory Legend) shows, in chronological order, the discovery of the Sutra on Vulture Peak at the top, and then illustrates the introduction of the Sutra, from the bottom upward: Prince Ajasatru's temptation, the imprisonment of his father and then his mother, and Queen Vaidehi's prayers answered by Shakyamuni Buddha. Shakyamuni transmits the knowledge of the Pure Land to his disciple in the last panel, second from the top.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eThe bottom border illustrates the nine levels of birth. This is described as the Court of General Meditations, being three levels of rebirth that are subdivided into three degrees. Surrounding the borders to the ends of the hanging scroll are designs of lotus flowers, each one being painted with small and careful details to help make the images stand out.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eThis example is similar in quality and make to \u003cb\u003eLot 208\u003c\/b\u003e sold at the Aguttes sale of December 20, 2022.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eThe painting has been neatly mounted onto a brocade decorated \u003ci\u003ekakejiku\u003c\/i\u003e (hanging scroll), with \u003ci\u003ejikusaki\u003c\/i\u003e (knobs) made of lacquered wood. There is a wooden box to accompany it, preserving the scroll.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eOne painting mounted on a kakejiku (hanging scroll), 151.5 x 91.5, 78.5 x 71.5 main painting \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eThis painting is in very good shape, with minor staining and some creasing, with the upper central section of the painting more stained and cracked. There are a couple of larger cracks up to the top of the painting.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"That Guy With The Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51634171642167,"sku":null,"price":11000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0281\/1589\/4371\/files\/20251218_140138.jpg?v=1769882215","url":"https:\/\/thatguywiththebooks.com\/products\/the-taima-mandala-circa-1700-1750-an-extravagantly-and-masterfully-produced-painting-of-sukhavati-the-western-pure-land-with-extensive-usage-of-gold-leaf","provider":"That Guy With The Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}