“The Historical Buddha Preaching,” a section from The Illustrated Sutra of Past and Present Karma (Kako genzai inga kyō emaki)

Unidentified artist

Not on view

The sutra to which this section of text and images once belonged narrates the life of the historical Buddha, known in Japanese as Shaka and in Sanskrit as Shakyamuni. Here the Buddha has already achieved enlightenment, demonstrated by the halo (mandorla) framing his head. He is preaching a message to King Bimbisara (558–491 B.C.), who became emperor of the Magadha Empire, in northern India, and an ardent supporter of Buddhist teachings.

With its primitive evocation of threedimensionality, suggested through a succession of receding contour lines and alternating passages of light and dark color, this vignette from the life of Buddha is the earliest example of East Asian painting in The Met collection.

“The Historical Buddha Preaching,” a section from The Illustrated Sutra of Past and Present Karma (Kako genzai inga kyō emaki), Unidentified artist Japanese, mid-8th century, Handscroll section mounted as a hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, Japan

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“The Historical Buddha Preaching,” a section from The Illustrated Sutra of Past and Present Karma (Kako genzai inga kyō emaki), Unidentified artist Japanese, mid-8th century, Handscroll section mounted as a hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, Japan
“The Historical Buddha Preaching,” a section from The Illustrated Sutra of Past and Present Karma (Kako genzai inga kyō emaki), Unidentified artist Japanese, mid-8th century, Handscroll section mounted as a hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, Japan

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