Chinese Framed Porcelain Buddhist Temple Plaque, Medicine Buddha

Description

Chinese porcelain gilt Medicine Buddha plaque, Bhaiṣajyaguru, or Pharmacist Tathagata, seated on a lotus throne, he is the doctor who … more Chinese porcelain gilt Medicine Buddha plaque, Bhaiṣajyaguru, or Pharmacist Tathagata, seated on a lotus throne, he is the doctor who cures suffering (Pali/Sanskrit: dukkha/duḥkha) using the medicine of his teachings. He is depicted with an ornate mandorla and halo, both surrounded by finely detailed, artemisia leaves, having a blue coiffure and ushnisha with red jewels. The Tathagata's right hand is in earth witness mudra and his left hand holds a gallipot of ointment. The lotus throne rests on an ornate, kang table atop an ornate, stepped plinth, all above clouds with a central column of four of the eight Buddhist Treasures consisting of the Endless Knot, Two Fishes, the Darmachakra wheel and the Treasure Vase, surrounded by finely detailed lotus flowers and leaves. A pair of deer are just below the plinth on the right. The column of Buddhist symbols rests atop the head of a sea dragon amid the ocean waves, and two apsaras also swim in the waves, one in each lower corner. A red and gold, four character Qianlong reign mark is glazed to the lower right corner. The signature of the artist , "Minister Ding Guanpeng, respectfully, painting" with two red seal marks is at the lower left, and two other red seal marks are glazed at the top. All finely carved and detailed in a gold glaze on a black glazed ground, in the original, finely carved, traditional, heavy, Chinese hongmu frame with original Chinese bronze hanger. The back is intact and removable. Circa Republic of China era.

site size: 30.75 high x 16.25 wide less