Nirvana (Death) of the Buddha

A Nirvana (Death) of the Buddha portrait preserved by the Fudankoin Temple, bodaiji (a temple that takes care of the family over generations) for the Shimosaka family, an influential family in medieval Japan. The portrait depicts the Buddha’s deathbed in Kushinagar, India. The painting depicts the Buddha lying under a sal tree in the center, surrounded by Bosatsu, Devas, disciples, and animals mourning the Buddha’s passing. From the writing on the back of the painting, we can see that it was created as a donation from a neighboring settlement in 1689. It is a precious work with bright colors.