One of an altar set of the Eight Buddhist Emblems, ba ji xiang. Depicts the Endless Knot mounted on a lotus pedestal, constructed in two detachable parts. The lotus pedestal consists of a platform surrounded by multi-tiered overlapping lotus petals, raised on a tall stem embellished with four foliate scrolls, set atop a domed embellished base with sea waves, bands of cloud motifs and bosses, and a row of curved petals at the bottom. The endless knot with no beginning and no end symbolises the infinite knowledge of the Buddha. Carved wood covered with red lacquer and gold pigment.
A set of such altarpieces would be placed on the altar of a Buddhist temple. See McArthur, M. (2004), 'Reading Buddhist art: An illustrated guide to Buddhist signs and symbols', London: Thames & Hudson. Page 119.
