The Vimalakirti Sutra

Unidentified artist

Not on view

According to an inscription, this sutra was given by the independent kingdom of Dali to a Chinese ambassador in the early twelfth century. The sumptuous materials—gold pigment on dyed silk of a rich purple hue—befit a diplomatic gift. The scroll begins with an illustration of the sutra’s contents, in which the sage layman Vimalakirti seated on a dais, prepares to debate Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom. By besting Manjushri, Vimalakirti proved that one could master the Buddhist teachings without forsaking his family for monastic life, a precedent appreciated in China’s Confucian society.

The Vimalakirti Sutra, Unidentified artist Chinese, early 12th century, Handscroll; gold and silver on purple silk, China

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