Scenes from the Buddha’s Life

This painting is composed of three vignettes from the Buddha’s life.

The primary scene begins in the top right corner of the painting. It shows the Buddha ascended to the Trayastrimsa Heaven (Heaven of the Thirty-three Gods) to preach to his deceased mother, Maya, the black-haired figure facing the Buddha and flanked by the gods (devas). The Buddha is enthroned in the palace of Indra, the green figure to his right, who rules the Trayastrimsa Heaven. Afterward, the Buddha returns to earth via a triple ladder of gold, silver, and crystal lined by four serpents (nagas). At the foot of the ladder are several earthly inhabitants, and to their right, a group of sufferers huddle together in hell. This is a reference to the episode called “opening of the [three] worlds,” which recounts the Buddha allowing the meeting of beings from heaven, earth, and hell during his descent.