Buddhist Priest's Ceremonial Robe
Unknown Artist
1400s
Medium
silk and gold thread; embroidery
Dimensions
{"overall":{"height":1.194,"width":3.021}}
Classification
Garment
Department
Textiles
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund
Accession Number
1987.57
About this artwork
This example of imperial embroidery is one of the earliest surviving Chinese Buddhist robes (kasaya) in the West. Depicting 991 Buddhas, each slightly different, it is constructed out of patches in reference to the legend in which the Buddha's favorite disciple divided a robe he was given into 30 pieces. Patchwork is also a sign of humility. Multiple Buddha images known as “thousand Buddha” designs are seen painted and sculpted on the walls of cave temples in India, Afghanistan, Central Asia, an...