Art

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