Scroll of Buddhist Images - Painting Core 23
Step into the spiritual armor of the 12th-century Dali Kingdom with this section of Zhang Shengwen’s massive scroll. You’ll see a lineup of intense Buddhist deities, including the fierce Mahakala (labeled 'Great Holy Mahakala God') wielding a trident over a demon, and serene multi-armed figures floating in mandalas. This artwork was essentially a visual encyclopedia for the royal court in modern-day Yunnan, blending Chinese, Tibetan, and local styles into a 16-meter-long masterpiece of Esoteric Buddhism. It’s a rare, colorful snapshot of a kingdom where religion and art were completely inseparable.
Location: National Palace Museum, Taipei