by Elise Johnson, Assistant Registrar
One of the works included in Reflections of the Buddha is an accordion-fold scroll on loan from Harvard Art Museums. This gorgeous manuscript focuses on the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, commonly known as the “Goddess of Compassion”. The text and images within the scroll illustrate the calamities and dangers from which the deity will save any worshipper who cries out her name, as well as the diverse forms that Avalokiteśvara can take in order to make the Buddha’s teachings understood to any aspiring believer.
The scroll is an extremely long piece. Composed of 112 leaves, the work reaches a length of over 45 feet when completely laid out. As you can imagine, this size makes it difficult to display the entire manuscript at any one time. Thus, throughout the exhibition period at the Pulitzer, we will rotate the segments that are on view, allowing the returning visitor the opportunity to see different sections of text and image. In addition, since the scroll dates to the 15th century and is made of indigo-dyed paper, the work is vulnerable to light. Rotating the pages provides the added bonus of not exposing one segment of the scroll for too long of a period of time.
The first pages of the sutra have been on view since we opened the exhibition in early September. This Wednesday will provide visitors with their first chance to examine the subsequent leaves of the scroll. Here is a sneak peak of one of the scenes:
The Universal Gateway of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara” Chapter Twenty Five of the Lotus Sūtra (Miaofa lianhua jing Guanshiyin pusa pumenpin), with an Appended Heart Sūtra (Xin jing), 1432
China, Ming dynasty, 1368–1644
Accordion fold book; gold ink on indigo dyed paper; palace copy
Overall: approximately 13 3/8 x 542 3/8 in. (33.9 x 1377.6 cm)
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Alan Priest, 1926.46
Photograph by Katya Kallsen © President and Fellows of Harvard College
The figure on the left is Avalokiteśvara. She extends her right hand all the way down to earth to rest on a supplicant’s head. In this way, the artist illustrates Avalokiteśvara’s vow to intercede directly into the human world to save those in need.
This segment of the scroll will remain on view through December 7. Subsequent rotations will open to the public on Saturday, December 10 and Wednesday, January 25, 2012, so be sure to stop by the Lower Gallery periodically to make sure that you see as much of this incredible work as possible.
