咫尺雷音 Few Steps Away From Buddha

咫尺雷音

Artist: Li, Weisong 李巍松

Media: Chinese Painting on Silk

Size: 20 x 39 in. (50 x 100 cm)

冒越宪章，私往天竺”。贞观元年，玄奘离开长安，经凉州出玉门关西行，越阻涉险，历尽艰难，长途跋涉，终于到达印度。在印度，玄奘拜访了很多高僧，深入研究佛学经典。同时，他还刻苦学习梵文，为日后翻译佛经奠定了基础。贞观十七年，玄奘携带7尊佛像、657部经书、150粒舍利学成东归，并于贞观十九年回到长安。

这幅作品是对玄奘只身西行，历经劫难离近佛国的场景重现，画面中崇山矗矗，巃嵷崔巍。上有千仞之峰，下临百丈之溪，掉犇星之流旃，彏天狼之威孤，诚奋厥武，气象森然。煌煌荧荧，仰视山巅，萧何千千。为画家融合佛道两家哲学精神的水墨山水力作。

题跋释文: 癸卯冬日晴雪，巍松

A Chinese Buddhist monk, who, in the first year of the Zhenguan era, left Chang'an, traveled through the western regions, and faced numerous challenges to reach India. In India, Xuanzang visited many eminent monks and delved deeply into the study of Buddhist scriptures. Simultaneously, he diligently learned Sanskrit, laying the foundation for his future translations of Buddhist texts. In the seventeenth year of the Zhenguan era, Xuanzang returned to Chang'an with seven Buddhist statues, 657 volumes of scriptures, and 150 relics after successfully completing his studies in the East. He arrived back in the capital in the nineteenth year of the Zhenguan era.

The artwork portrays the perilous scenes of Xuanzang's solo journey to the West, braving hardships to approach the Buddhist lands. The towering mountains stand resolute, with steep peaks and cliffs above, and deep ravines below. The flowing banners resemble cascading stars, and the lone figure of Xuanzang exudes a determined and martial spirit. The radiant scenery, as one looks up at the mountain summit, conveys a sense of vastness and grandeur. This painting is an impressive ink landscape that blends the philosophical spirits of both Buddhism and Daoism, capturing the essence of the artist's vision.