Art

  • Standing Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Thangka of the Twenty-One Taras
  • Empress Jito, from the series “Parody of the Ogura Version of ‘One Hundred Poets, One Hundred Poems’ ”
  • The Arhats Panthaka, Gopaka, Nagasena, and Abheda From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Large Votive Stupa
  • The Descent of Buddha Amida
  • Portrait of the Abbot Ennin
  • Baisajyaguru, the Medicine Buddha
  • The Buddha Begins Teaching
  • Dakini Vasya-Vajravarahi
  • Taima Mandala, the Buddha Amida’s Paradise
  • Padmasambhava with his 25 Tibetan Pupils From a series of 7 thangkas
  • Votive Stela Depicting Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Amida Nyorai, Buddha of the Western Paradise
  • Buddhist Monk
  • Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, as the Patron of fishermen
  • Great Stupa at Sanchi
  • The Arhats Kanakavasta, Vajriputra, Kanaka Bharadvaja, and Bhadra From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Vajradhara, the Primordial Buddha
  • Buddha Shakyamuni with Scenes from his Life
  • The Transcendent Buddha Akshobhya
  • Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • The Death of the Buddha
  • Head of a Lokeshvara
  • Head of a Bodhisattva
  • State Oracle Garment
  • Yakshi, Nymph with Lotus Flowers, fragment of a baluster
  • Buddha Dipankara, the Buddha of the Past
  • The Buddha’s Parinirvana
  • The Bodhisattva of Compassion Sitting in Meditation
  • Leaving for Homelessness
  • Mahasiddha Virupa
  • Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara
  • Bust of a Luohan
  • The Prophecy of the Wise Asita
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Meditating Under the Bodhi Tree
  • Buddhist Monastic Rules from the Pali Canon
  • The Buddha Invokes the Earth Goddess as his Witness
  • Ushnishavijaya
  • Shaka Nyorai, the Historical Buddha
  • Rectangular Coin
  • Buddhist Pocket-sized Prayer Altar
  • Gazelle
  • Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Monastic Rules for Monks
  • The Arhats Vanavasin, Angaja, Kalika, and Ajita From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Printing Block for a Prayer from the Text “Embodiment of the Three Jewels” by Jatson Nyingpo (1585–1656)
  • Machig Labdrön
  • Padmasambhava with his 25 Tibetan Pupils From a series of 7 thangkas
  • Buddha Shakyamuni at the Moment of his Awakening
  • Seated Bodhisattva
  • Pancha Raksha Manuscript
  • Excerpt from the Lotus Sutra
  • Gendün Gyatso, the 2nd Dalai Lama (1476–1542)
  • Stupa
  • Bodhidharma Crosses the Yangtze River on a Reed
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Attains Awakening Under the Bodhi Tree
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Hotei, One of the Gods of Good Fortune, with Child
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Head of the Buddha
  • The Four Excursions
  • Female Monkey with Her Young
  • Buddhist Votive Tablet
  • Plaque Showing the Buddha Teaching
  • Shyamatara, Green Tara
  • Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Sitatara, White Tara
  • Half-length Portrait of the Zen Patriarch Bodhidharma
  • Shakyamuni Enters Nirvana
  • Standing Bodhisattva
  • Buddhist Votive Tablet
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Sheltered by the Serpent-King
  • Buddha Shakyamuni From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Standing Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Prince Siddhartha’s Wedding
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Invokes the Earth Goddess as his Witness
  • Padmasambhava
  • The Four Pleasures of Nan Shenglu (detail)
  • Kannon, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Vijaya Stupa
  • Shyamatara, Green Tara
  • Head of a Monk
  • Budai
  • The Three Buddhas Dipankara, Shakyamuni, and Maitreya
  • Jizo Bosatsu, Bodhisattva in the Guise of a Monk
  • Six Persimmons
  • Praying Priest
  • Head of the Buddha
  • Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom
  • Standing Buddha Amida
  • Mara’s Daughters Tempt the Buddha
  • The Layman Huashang and Two Lokapalas From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Hotei
  • Guhyamanjuvajra
  • The Ascetic Milarepa
  • Dharani Sutra of the Heart of the Perfection of Insight
  • The Bodhisattva of Compassion as the Bringer of Sons
  • The 4th Dalai Lama Yonten Gyatso (1589–1617)
  • Buddha Shakyamuni as a Newborn Infant
  • Monumental Head of a Bodhisattva
  • Stela Showing Scenes from the Life of the Buddha
  • Buddha Maitreya
  • Jambhala, the God of Wealth
  • Standing Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Buddha Shakyamuni 
  • Portrait of the Zen Priest Gemmon Doyu
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Tames the Wild Elephant Nalagiri
  • Standing Monk with Hands Folded
  • Standing Tara
  • Ceremonial Dagger Featuring the God of Death
  • Travel Shrine
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Vase with Lotus Vines and the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Bodhidharma
  • Head of a Buddha
  • Votive Stela with Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Dharmatala and two lokapalas From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Buddhist Votive Stela of the Yan Family
  • Buddha Vairocana
  • Relief of the Five Transcendent Buddhas
  • Dharmapala Yama
  • The Arhats Bakula, Rahula, Cudapanthaka, and Pindola From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Standing Buddha
  • Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion in the Posture of Royal Ease
  • The Descent of Buddha Amida
  • Green Tara (Shyama Tara)
  • Seated Bodhisattva
  • Buddha Shakyamuni and the Earth-Touching Gesture
  • Sakya Pandita (1182–1252)
  • Stupa
  • The Prophecy of the Buddha Dipankara
  • Zen Priest in a Golden Wrap
Relief of the Five Transcendent Buddhas

Relief of the Five Transcendent Buddhas

The Five Transcendent Buddhas are supramundane manifestations of the Absolute, or ultimate wisdom. Each embodies particular aspects of it, and each is attributed specific symbols and qualities. 

Each of the Five Transcendent Buddhas – Ratnasambhava, Akshobhya, Vairocana, Amitabha, and Amoghasiddhi – sits between pillars and beneath a decorative arch. The thrones of these Buddhas are borne by their respective mounts.