Research on the Barefoot Monk in the Illustrated Scroll"Buddhist Ritual Assembly Performed by the Fifth Karma pa to Glorify Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty"
The illustrated scroll"Buddhist Ritual Assembly Performed by the Fifth Karma pa to Glorify Emper-or Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty"is a giant scroll,bestowed by Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty to the Fifth Karma pa.It depicts auspicious scenes of the Fifth Karma pa conducting a ritual of blessings at Linggu Temple in Nanjing.The scroll was later brought back to Xizang by the Fifth Karma pa and had an impact on the local painting styles in Xizang.In addition to numerous descriptions of extraordinary phenomena,the scroll portrays a multitude of monks and Arhats.Notably,one monk stands out—the barefoot monk depicted on Feb-ruary 13th(of the Chinese calendar),clad in hundred-patch robes,holding a shoe in one hand and grasping the corner of his robe with the other.This study,based on multilingual annotations,accounts from other relevant documents,and the historical background of the blessing ceremony at Linggu Temple,employs image analysis to authenticate the identity of the barefoot monk.The research suggests that this monk is not a specific historical figure but rather represents the cultural phenomenon of auspicious signs during the early Ming Dy-nasty,consistent with other symbols of good fortune in the scroll.Moreover,this aligns with the concept of"manifestation of a Bodhisattva,"as described in the biography of the Fifth Karma pa,reflecting the Han-Ti-betan cultural exchanges throughout the creation and reception of this artwork.
Barefoot monkUnusual monkAuspicious signManifestations of the Bodhisattva
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