Mandala with the Five Dhyani (Meditation) Buddhas, symbolic of the five cosmic elements, identifiable as Vairochana (center), Amitabha (top), Ratnasambhava (left), Amoghasiddhi (right); and Akshobhya (bottom)

Location
Dunhuang, China

Date
ca. 851–900

Material
ink on paper

Dimensions
17 5/8 x 15 7/8 in. (44.8 x 43.2 cm)

Collection
field collection by Sir Marc Aurel Stein; British Museum; 1919,0101,0.173

Photo Credit
photograph © The Trustees of the British Museum. All rights reserved

Object Essay