'Circles of light' and 'treasure ships' in the Visualizing Amitāyus Tableaux: with a focus on some cases in Sichuan from the Tang and Five Dynasties period. Issue 4 (2nd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sun, Mingli
• Is Part Of: Studies in Chinese religions. Volume 3:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 350
• Page End: 388
• Publication Date: 2017-10-02
• Subjects: Sichuan -- the Tang and Five Dynasties period -- transformation tableaux -- The Sutra of Visualizing Amitāyus Buddha -- 'circle of light' -- 'treasure ship'; China -- Religion -- Periodicals; China -- Religious life and customs -- Periodicals; 200.951
• DOI: 10.1080/23729988.2018.1429144
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2372-9988

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article addresses two aspects in the transformation tableaux of the Sutra of Visualizing Amitāyus Buddha from Sichuan during the Tang and Five Dynasties period: 'circles of light' and 'treasure ships'. It investigates the types of images, their regional features and doctrinal significance. The images of 'circles of light' express how the light of Amitābha is the brightest and most distinguished because it illuminates the Buddha lands in ten directions. They also function to save all sentient beings and persuade people to chant Amitābha's names. Images of 'treasure ships' are closely related to the teaching of yixingdao ('easy path') of Pure Land method. Both the 'circles of light' and 'treasure ships" demonstrate iconography that developed from Central to Eastern Sichuan. Stylistic representations of the transformation tableaux of Sutra of Visualizing Amitāyus Buddha from Chang'an and Luoyang may also be the original for examples from Sichuan. In addition to assessing the complex text-image interactions in the context of Pure Land-related ideas and practices in a strategically important and intellectually seminal area in medieval China, this article is also a case study for complex patterns and routes through which a set of core ideas and practices was widely disseminated through different media.