Buddha's Among Clouds Analysis

Buddha’s Among Clouds Travel back in time to 1744 during the Qing dynasty, where a court artist named Ding Guanpeng created the painting Buddhas of the Three Generations. This painting was most likely a gift to the religious leaders of Tibet, followed by a series of other paintings. The emperor of the time was Emperor Qianlong and he supported Tibetan style Buddhism. While the Qing dynasty in China embraced Tibetan style Buddhism, the Kamakura period in Japan also welcomed it as well with a painting called Kasuga Shrine Mandala. Although the painting Buddhas of Three Generations and the painting Kasuga Shrine Mandala are from two completely different worlds they collide together with the same idea and embrace Tibetan style Buddhism with every brush stroke.

Emperor Qianlong whom enjoyed posing for Tibetan paintings and bestowing them to religious leaders was a powerful and long lived ruler. When the Qing era started in 1644 it was thought to be the demise of Chinese civilization because it was taken over by the Manchus. However, the Manchus have adopted many Chinese traditions while keeping their Tibetan roots and close ties with Tibetan Buddhism.

When Ding Guanpeng executed the painting Buddhas of the Three Generations in 1744 he painted it on woven silk tapestry with ink and colors. Woven silk is also known as Kesi, which can be translated into “cut silk” (foot note). This painting depicts three generations of Buddhas sitting on lotus thrones surrounded by a beautiful blue sky background with whimsical white and beige clouds. Each Buddha represents the past, present, and future. From left to right there is Maitreya (Buddha of the future), Shakyamuni (Buddha of the present), and Kashyapa (Buddha of the