001
The Life of the Buddha Shakyamuni as Commemorated by Eight Stupas
Thangka, painting
Cotton support with opaque mineral pigments in waterbased (collagen) binder.
17.5 x 24.75 inches
Southeastern Tibet
Ca. 18th or 19th century
Folk tradition
The eight stupas mark the defining events in Shakyamuni's life. The events are: his birth at Lumbini; enlightenment at Bodhgaya; first sermon at the Deer Park at Sarnath; descent from Trayastrimsha heaven at Sankashya; the great miracle at Shravasti; taming of the wild elephant, Nalagiri, at Rajagriha (modern Rajgir); gift of the monkey at Vaishali; and his death, the nirvana, at Kushinagara. These sites are visited as a complete pilgrimage cycle and, objects such as this painting, serve as commemorative offerings.
Wei Lin and Chris Moore
Museum #: 95.142
Huntington Archive Image Scan #: T1007