National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

Vimalakirti (Ch., Weimo; J., Yuima) was a wealthy man who lived in Vaisali, India, around the time of the historical Buddha, Gautama (6th to 5th century B.C.). Though Vimalakirti was a layman, he was eloquent in his speech and deep in his understanding of Buddhism. One day, the bodhisattva Manjusri (J., Monju) was sent by the Buddha to Vimalakirti’s home to inquire on the latter’s health. There the bodhisattva engaged the layman in a debate on the essence of Buddhism.
This painting depicts the above dramatic scene as described in the Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra (J., Yuima-kyo ). The elderly Vimalakirti sits on a dais, leaning on an armrest with mouth slightly open. Behind the dais stands a heavenly being from the “Goddess” chapter of the sutra, ready to scatter offertory flowers in the air. Virmalakirti’s composed countenance and the elaborate details of the dais reflect characteristics of Chinese Song-dynasty ink paintings, exhibiting the artist’s incorporation of the line drawing style of the late Northern Song painter Li Gonglin (active ca. 1041-1106), who was fond of drawing portraits of Vimalakirti.