Them Bones

今野達編『今昔物語集　一』新日本文学大系（岩波書店）二七二〜二八九.

I'm reading a series of stories (説話) that have to do with the death of the Buddha (S. parinirvana, J. 涅槃), trying to approach some sort of broader historical context for understanding the painting. One point of interest: after the Buddha attains parinirvana, he is to be cremated. All the necessary preparations are undertaken and his coffin is lit on fire. This fire burns and burns, showing no sign of petering out. Several deities visit the burning coffin and attempt to extinguish the fire with perfumes, but to no avail. Why? Because they're hoping to take the bones back to their respective realms. Poised on the edge of death (as in the painting), the Buddha provides a focal point for the diverse beings of the universe. Once he dies, however, the universe is shaken: what used to be a centripetal cohesiveness is reduced to a few objects, rife with symbolism, that will be claimed and warred over.

The painting displays this transitory moment between life and death, order and chaos. Everyone is watching (and not only watching the Buddha) but no one knows for sure what is going to happen. Mental wheels are turning and age-old rivalries are in the process of being ressurected again on the grand cosmological stage.