In Buddhist art，the depiction of the Master's `parinirvana` is an important theme. It was popular for a long time and can be found in all `Theravada` and `Mahayana` countries of Asia. We could well say that in most places where Buddhists lived pictorial representations of the `nirvana` scene were created.
The present paper first quotes in general terms the canonical scriptures upon which these works of art are based，primarily the `Mahayana` and `Hinayana` versions of the `Mahaparinirvana Sutra`. Then it adduces what other texts record concerning the events before and after the `nirvana`.
Examples of `nirvana` depictions are introduced beginning with Section Four. The survey starts from the Indian styles of `Gandhara`，`Mathura`，and Gupta, and proceeds along the Silk Road to Central Asia, Tun-huang，and then China proper. A selection of historical sites with `nirvana` representations is given including the rock carvings at Mt. K'ung-wang，`Lien-yun` kang，which were dated to the Eastern Han Dynasty after their discovery four years ago，or the huge stone sculpture of the reclining Buddha discovered two years ago in `An-yueh` , Szechuan Province. Since they provide valuable data on the route along which Buddhism spread eastward and the styles of `nirvana` representations, they have attracted attention from scholars all over the world.
Generally speaking， representations of `nirvana` are comprised of two parts：the reclining Buddha and his mourning disciples. Although the Buddha's posture usually corresponds to the canonical description，some divergencies can still be found that bear witness to certain local and historical conditions. Nevertheless the execution of the disciples is more artistically exuberant. Not only do the different expressions of mourning (due to the individual development of bodhisattvas, arhats, gods, men，etc.) reveal the highest of artistic skill，but the various costumes of kings, princes, noblemen，and commoners gathered to mourn the Buddha's passing away also provide us with clues to the customs of different periods and regions. Thus they are a valuable source of information on social history.
