# Buddha's Conversion of Five Bhiksu

- By: Li Sheng (Chinese, active c. 1324–after 1375)
- Date: mid-1300s
- Medium: handscroll; ink on paper
- Classification: Painting
- Dimensions: Painting only: 26.7 x 110.5 cm (10 1/2 x 43 1/2 in.)
- Culture: China, Yuan dynasty (1271–1368)
- Credit line: Bequest of Mrs. A. Dean Perry
- Museum: [Cleveland Museum of Art](https://clevelandart.org/art/1997.92)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1997.92/1997.92_web.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

This episode stems from the life of the historical Buddha, who, after his enlightenment, was initially hesitant about preaching his own doctrine. After much personal deliberation and prodding by deities, he finally relented. The first converts were the five guards who served him when he was still a prince. For Li Sheng, this is the pretext of the painting, which moves from the interaction of the bhiksu with the Buddha to a broader awareness of the vast surroundings of the scene.