Nirvana of the Buddha

Object Details

• Label

  This painting depicts the death of the Historical Buddha Sakyamuni and his entry into Nirvana, whereby he gains release from the cycles of birth, rebirth, and consequent suffering. Rolled for storage for much of each year, the painting was suspended from the beams at the altar of the temple Enmeiji in Mie Prefecture for the annual ceremony celebrating the Buddha's entry into Nirvana. The variety of mourners, including deities, humans, and animals, represent the universal power of Buddha's teachings. Beginning in Japan in the eighth century, the subject of Buddha entering Nirvana eventually became so popular that images were reproduced by woodblock printing.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Religious Art of Japan (December 18, 2002 to January 4, 2015)

  Life of a Japanese Painting (December 1, 1995 to October 16, 1996)

  Japanese Art (March 12, 1982 to November 3, 1986)

  Japanese Art (June 16, 1982 to September 28, 1982)

  Japanese Art (February 15, 1981 to March 3, 1981)

  A Decade of Discovery: Selected Acquisitions 1970-1980 (November 9, 1979 to May 22, 1980)

  Japanese Art (July 1, 1974 to April 10, 1978)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1300s

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Kamakura period (1185 - 1333), Khakkhara, Art, Nirvana, Japanese Art, Death

• Culture

  Buddhists, Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings