Tibetan or Chinese origin, 18th century embroidery Tibetan Buddhist art of Cosmic Mount Meru

The setting, with beasts and floating skulls in a desolate landscape, focuses the mind of the meditator (or the initiate in a ceremony) upon mortality, and hence upon the eternal. Within the circle is a view of our world, seen from above (a sacred, imaginary conception, but based upon reality). The four continents are represented by groups of three buildings. India, the southern continent, appears on the left. Between the continents and Mt. Meru are seven concentric oceans and mountain ranges. Mt. Meru rises in the center. One heaven stands on its slopes, a second lies at its summit, and four float above it.

artwork 18th century art of tibet birds in art black horses in art bones in art dogs in art embroidery horses in art of tibet mount meru mythology skulls in art thangka from tibet tibetan buddhism tibetan art in the walters art museum trees in art yaks in art walters art museum landscape illumination of books and manuscripts illuminated manuscripts dog

1750

Walters Art Museum

http://thewalters.org/

public domain