Digital Rare Book:
The romantic legend of Sakya Buddha : from the Chinese-Sanscrit
By Samuel Beal (1825-1889)
Published by Turner & Co., London - 1875

Read Book Online:

http://bit.ly/258igrF

Download pdf Book:

http://bit.ly/1XoZERv

Image:
Head of Buddha, c. 570

China, Hebei province, northern Xiangtangshan caves, South cave, Northern Qi dynasty (550-577)
Limestone

At the Xiangtangshan Buddhist sites in Hebei province, cave-temple construction and image-making were supported by the Northern Qi imperial court and nobility. Under the constant shadow of political uncertainty and the theory of the "Law of the Decadence" (or mofa, the deterioration of the True Law after the historical Buddha’s attainment of nirvana), the Buddhist faith was embraced as the ideal for rulership. The Buddha’s smile offers reassurance and consolation.

Text and image credit: The Cleveland Museum of Art