Samantabhadra
Unknown Artist
1100s
Medium
hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
Dimensions
image: 114.8 × 55.1 cm · mounted: 208.6 × 75.4 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Chinese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund
Accession Number
1962.161
About this artwork
In the last chapter of the Lotus Sutra, one of the principal Buddhist texts, the great Bodhisattva Samantabhadra is described advancing to earth, riding on a six-tusked elephant, and proclaiming himself protector of the faithful. More frequently, he is shown with Bodhisattva Manjusri as the attendants of Shakyamuni (the historical Buddha). This scroll is probably the left panel in a triptych (group of three paintings) portraying these deities.