Currently not on view
Kanakamuni Buddha (Junamuni fo 拘那含牟尼佛),
1777 (stone); late 19th to first half of 20th century (rubbing)
Information
1777 (stone); late 19th to first half of 20th century (rubbing)
Asia, China
In the center is the large figure of the Kanakamuni Buddha reaching enlightenment seated on a lotus base under a sal tree (poluo shu婆罗树, shorea robusta). The right hand is held before his chest in a speaking the Dharma mudra (shuofa yin 說法印), and the right had holds a bowl at his lap. To each side stands his monk disciples Bhiyyosa (Shupannaduo 舒槃那多) and Uttaraholding (Yuduoluo 鬱多羅) a staff (Sanskrit: khakkhara; C: xizhang 錫杖) and an alms bowl. At the bottom are two seated figures in the center, the disciple Anhe 安和 on the right, facing another Buddhist follower on the left. Behind them to the left and right, respectively, are the Kanakamuni Buddha’s father Dade 大德 and mother Shansheng 善勝. Captions are placed next to each figure. Above the figural scene is a horizontal band with inscriptions, from right to left, in Chinese, Manchu, Mongolian, and Tibetan scripts of the “Verse of Kanakamuni Buddha” (Junamuni fo ji 拘那含牟尼佛偈) recorded by Shi Zisheng 師釋子昇 in the Song dynasty (960-1279). Two decorated bands encircle the text and scene, and short inscriptions in the same four scripts are found in the outer band. The inner band has two dragons chasing a pearl at top and bottom, and a rising dragon on each side. The outer band is decorated with the Seven Treasures (七珍) and Eight Auspicious Symbols (八寶). Two horizontal panels decorated with Buddhist ritual implements and emblems are at the top and bottom.
The pictorial carving from which this rubbing is taken belongs to a stele erected at the Seven Buddha Pagoda (Qifo Ta 七佛塔) in Beihai 北海, Beijing. The stele is presently in the collection of the National Library of China 国家图书馆, Beijing.
