Buddhist Statues and Art

Diverse representations of Buddha statues from varying eras and styles. Emphasis on craftsmanship and spiritual significance in Buddhist iconography.

Figure of a Buddha, 1350-1767 (Ayutthia period), H.20-9/16 x W.16-1/2 x D.6-3/4 in., bronze, mother-of-pearl, Thailand, 14th - 18th century

'Buddha Maravijaya (Buddha Calling the Earth to Witness)'. Siam (now Thailand).Lanna art (Extreme North area), Second half of the 16th century ( ). Dimensions: h. 50,5 cm. Museum: State Hermitage, St. Petersburg.

Seated Buddha late 6th-first half of the 7th century India. Seated Buddha. India. late 6th-first half of the 7th century. Bronze with silver and copper inlay. post-Gupta period, later Sarnath style. Sculpture

Buddha; 18th century () (1701-00-00-1800-00-00);

'Buddha Maravijaya (Buddha Calling the Earth to Witness)'. Siam (now Thailand).Lanna art (Extreme North area), 16th - 17th century. Dimensions: h. 13 cm. Museum: State Hermitage, St. Petersburg.

. These figures incorporate more details than earlier representations of Guanyin. During the Liao dynasty, Guanyins crown and neck jewellery were lavishly and meticulously rendered. The bodies are also a little stockier than previously, with short legs.

Figure of a Buddha, 1350-1767 (Ayutthia period), H.20-9/16 x W.16-1/2 x D.6-3/4 in., bronze, mother-of-pearl, Thailand, 14th - 18th century

Buddha on a lotus throne; 19th century (1801-00-00-1900-00-00);

'Buddha Revata'. Siam (now Thailand).Lanna art (Extreme North area), 16th - 17th century. Dimensions: h. 19 cm. Museum: State Hermitage, St. Petersburg.

Crowned Buddha 12th-13th century Thailand, Khmer, Lopburi This crowned Buddha image was cast in Lopburi, the Khmer provincial capital located in central (modern day) Thailand in the early centuries of the second millennium. It reflects a new vogue in Buddhism for the crowned and bejeweled Buddha, adornment normally reserved for Buddhist saviorsbodhisattvasnot Buddhas. This reflected a new envisioning of the Buddha that drew on very early notions of the Buddha as a spiritual sovereign, a chakravartin. Eastern Indian models of the Pala period, which are known to have circulated, served as models for Lopburi artists to produce their very Khmer-style versions of this new Buddha-type.. Crowned Buddha. Thailand, Khmer, Lopburi. 12th-13th century. Copper alloy. Khmer style. Sculpture

Four -Bodihsattwie Awalokite VARE (CZATURBHUD A); 2. PO. 18th century (1751-00-00-1800-00-00);Himalayan (culture), lotus throne (iconogr.), Sino-Tibetan (style), art of Tibetan Buddhism, Himalayan art, purchase (provenance)

'Buddha Maravijaya (Buddha Calling the Earth to Witness)'. Siam (now Thailand). Sukhothai, Kampheng Phet type, Between 1378 and 1438. Dimensions: h. 42,5 cm. Museum: State Hermitage, St. Petersburg.

Buddha

Vajrasattva Seated on Lotus Flower with Hands Grasping a Thunderbolt (Vajra) and Bell (Ghanta) with Thunderbolt Handle 775 CE-825 CE China. Gilt copper alloy .

Water and Moon (Potala) Guanyin, 900-1100. China, Five dynasties (907-960) - Song dynasty (960-1279). Gilt bronze; overall: 17.6 cm (6 15/16 in.).

The Spiritual Master Padmasambhava 14th century Western Tibet or Ladakh This portrait of Guru Padmasambhava (Lotus-Born) is one of the earliest known effigies of the eighth-century Indian mystic, revered as the leading propagator of tantric Buddhism in Tibet. He is believed to have gone to Tibet at the invitation of King Trisong Detsen and there founded the Nyingma Order of Tibetan Buddhism. Popularly known as Guru Rinpoche, here he sits enthroned in a yogic posture and holds a thunderbolt scepter (vajra), symbolizing the clarity of pure Buddhist thought, and a skull cup (kapala), representing detachment. He wears the distinctive cloth cap of his order and has distended earlobes, the mark of an enlightened being. His facial expression is accessible, attentive, and spiritually alive. A dedicatory inscription names a royal patron: Kunga Gyalpo, an otherwise unknown ruler from Western Tibet or Ladakh.. The Spiritual Master Padmasambhava 78192

Sakyamuni Buddha, 12th Century. Burma, Pagan style, 12th century. Bronze; overall: 18 cm (7 1/16 in.).

Sitting Lama. Image of a seated lama. With the right hand, the monk makes the gesture of education and the left is open in the lap. There is a Tibetan inscription on the back of the Loteskrel.

Buddha Shakyamuni. Burma (Myanmar), Shan States, 19th century. Sculpture. Copper alloy

Shakyamuni, c. 1868-1912. Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912). Wood with traces of lacquer and gilding; overall: 33.5 cm (13 3/16 in.).

A Buddha. Indonesia, Central Java, circa 875-950. Sculpture. Copper alloy

Seishi, anonymous, c. 1400 - c. 1600 Image of wood with gilded paintwork, from the Bodhisattva Seishi, half kneeling and with the hands held vertically against each other for the chest, in the hand posture of worship (Kongō Gasshō, Anjali-Mudra). The base is included under inventory number AK-MAK-119-1. Japan wood (plant material). lacquer (coating) Image of wood with gilded paintwork, from the Bodhisattva Seishi, half kneeling and with the hands held vertically against each other for the chest, in the hand posture of worship (Kongō Gasshō, Anjali-Mudra). The base is included under inventory number AK-MAK-119-1. Japan wood (plant material). lacquer (coating)

Sun Bodhisattva (Nikkō Bosatsu). Japan, circa 800. Japanese Japanese nutmeg-yew wood carving

Ancient Buddha sculpture, bronze, from Sri Lanka

Buddha Shakyamuni 12th century Central Tibet In this sublime and exceedingly rare early medieval depiction of the historical Buddha he is seen seated in a yogic meditation posture, with his right hand lowered and gesturing to the Earth Goddess at the moment prior to his enlightenment, when he steadfastly resistance all the temptations of desire. He displays a number of the auspicious marks of Buddhahood (lakshanas): the extended earlobes, which serve to remind the viewer of the Buddhas former princely status; the three rings on the neck; the forehead mark (urna, a curl of hair according to texts); and the highly pronounced skull protuberance (ushnisha). The presence of a flame-like projection surmounting the ushnisha is a rare and significant feature, for although it has a textual foundation, it is rarely represented in Tibetan or indeed Indian Buddhist art. The figure has a refined and smooth surface, with traces of gilding on the face and neck. Skillfully articulated fingers and toe

. These figures incorporate more details than earlier representations of Guanyin. During the Liao dynasty, Guanyins crown and neck jewellery were lavishly and meticulously rendered. The bodies are also a little stockier than previously, with short legs.

'Buddha Maravijaya (Buddha Calling the Earth to Witness)'. Siam (now Thailand). Art of Sukhothai, Late 14th - early 15th century. Dimensions: h. 31,5 cm. Museum: State Hermitage, St. Petersburg.

Amitajus; XVIII-XIX century (1701-00-00-1900-00-00);figurines, art of Tibetan Buddhism, purchase (provenance)

'Seated Crowned Buddha in the Meditation Pose'. Siam (now Thailand). Ayutthaya art, 17th century. Dimensions: h. 19,5 cm. Museum: State Hermitage, St. Petersburg.

Sun Bodhisattva (Nikkō Bosatsu), c. 800. Japan, Heian period (794-1185). Japanese nutmeg-yew wood with traces of color and gold; overall: 46.7 cm (18 3/8 in.).

Fragment of a Seated Kubera

Portrait of the Tibetan Lama Chankya Hutuktu Rolpai Dorje (1717-1786) 1799-1899 China. Brass alloy . Tibeto-Chinese

Standing Avalokiteshvara 16th century Nepal (Kathmandu Valley) Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of this cosmic age, is shown with one hand lowered in the boon-giving gesture (varada mudra), while the other holds a lotus. This rare image is carved of sandalwoodan inherently pure, uncorrupted, and auspicious material. Early texts tell us that the mythical first image of the Buddha was carved of sandalwood at the time he traveled to Tushita heaven to teach his mother the path to enlightenment. Hence, this figure would have been understood as related to that original image-making tradition.. Standing Avalokiteshvara 38441

Buddha Amitayus Holding a Vase of Longevity (Kalasa) 1701-1800 Mongolia. Gilt bronze inlaid with stones .

. Sculpture representing VajrasAttva, in the back of the head where the diadem is located is a protrusion to which the aure dole was probably attached.

Dainichi, the Cosmic Buddha (Mahavairocana) 12th century Japan Dainichi Nyorai (Sanskrit: Mahavairocana Tathagata), or Supreme Buddha of the Cosmos from which the entire universe emanates, is the central object of devotion in Esoteric sects of Buddhism. Here, Dainichi appears in a form known as Ichiji Kinrin, or One-Syllable Golden Wheel,” one of the Five Supreme Buddha Attendants. Dainichi’s hands form the chiken-in, or wisdom fist” mudra, with the left index finger surrounded by the fingers of the right hand. This gesture has the power to restrain passions that hinder enlightenment and expresses the union of spiritual and material realms of being. The graceful proportions of the sculpture come from its having been carved and assembled in sections (yosegi-zukuri), a technique that began in the late Heian period. Listen to experts illuminate this artwork's story Listen Play or pause #8825. Dainichi Nyorai (Mahavairocana) Play or pause #123. The Director's Tour, Second Floor: Dainichi

Bodhisattva Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future 7th century India (Jammu and Kashmir) or Pakistan (Swat Valley) The messianic savior Maitreya is identified by the flask he holds in his lower hand. He is seated in a yogic posture on a double-lotus cushion and extends spiritual protection to believers with his raised hand, here displayed with the palm facing inwards, not outwards as is conventional. This icon has a superbly preserved metal surface, complete with silver inlay on the eyes and forehead mark (urna). The raised ornamentation reflects an awareness of Gupta design. The figure and base were cast separately, and the lotus base is inscribed on the reverse with a donor dedication.. Bodhisattva Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future 38980

Crowned historical Buddha Sakyamuni. Tibet-Nepal, 15th C. 16th C. Golden copper scuplture.

Bodhisattva, one of a pair, 1770, 8 5/8 x 4 5/8 in. (21.84 x 11.75 cm), Gilt bronze, China, 18th century, Such popular Buddhist images as Avalokitesvara, the compassionate one, were occasionally produced in sets. Since the act of making or commissioning a religious work was considered pious in itself, those who could afford it often commissioned multiple images. Here the jeweled and crowned deity is represented as a perfectly poised yogi seated in the lotus posture on a dais, the hands placed together in the lap forming the dhyana mudra, the gesture of meditation. The figures are set off by aureoles adorned with a flame motif representing purity. The identical inscriptions written in Chinese characters across the bases read: 'Reverently made in the gengyin year of Qianlong (1770) during the great Qing Dynasty.'

Buddha Shakyamuni. Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura period, 8th century. Sculpture. Copper alloy

A Buddha. Northern or Western Laos or Northeast Thailand, 1890. Sculpture. Copper alloy inlaid with crystal and obsidian

Bodhisattwa avalokitesvara (guanyin pusa) unknown

Enthroned Buddha Granting Boons dated by inscription to ca. 600 Pakistan (Gilgit Kingdom) This Buddha is one of the three earliest datable sculptures associated with the kingdom of Gilgit in northern Pakistan. All were commissioned by Queen Mangalahamsika, known from Gilgit manuscripts to have been the senior queen to King Vajraditayanandi (reigned ca. 600). The Sanskrit donor inscription engraved on the front cartouche states: Om. This is a pious gift. This pious gift was ordered to be made by the Shri Paramadevi [Highest Queen Mangalahamsika” (trans. O. von Hinueber).. Enthroned Buddha Granting Boons. Pakistan (Gilgit Kingdom). dated by inscription to ca. 600. Gilt brass with silver and copper inlay. Patola Shahi period. Sculpture

Buddha mid-6th century China. Buddha 42709

Maitreya Buddha (Mi-le, ). China. Date: 705 AD. Dimensions: 82.3 × 33.0 × 30.2 cm (32.4 × 12.9 × 11.9 in.). Limestone. Origin: China. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

Seated Vairochana, the Transcendent Buddha of the Center ca. first half of the 10th century Indonesia (Java) Vairochana is the presiding deity in the group of five Transcendent Buddhas of Esoteric Buddhism.. Seated Vairochana, the Transcendent Buddha of the Center 39024

Statue of One of Eight Great Bodhisattvas, Qianlong Period, Qing Dynasty (1736 - 1795 AD) The Capital Museum, Beijing, China

Buddha, Anonymous, 1500 - 1550 Buddha sat on an elevation (partly demolished) (in Paryanka) The right hand rests on the right leg and the fingers point down (BhumisParsamudra). On a pedestal. Thailand silver (metal) Buddha sat on an elevation (partly demolished) (in Paryanka) The right hand rests on the right leg and the fingers point down (BhumisParsamudra). On a pedestal. Thailand silver (metal)

Kelzany Gyasto (1708-1757), 7th Dalai Lama from Tibet. Dated 19th Century

Standing Buddha. Korea, Unified Silla Kingdom (676-935), late 7th-8th century. Sculpture. Cast bronze with gilding

Seated Transcendent Buddha Akshobhya () second half of the 10th century Indonesia (Java). Seated Transcendent Buddha Akshobhya () 38286

Goddess Green Tara Seated with Hand in Gesture of Gift Giving (Varadamudra) 1301-1400 Southern Tibet. Gilt bronze with red pigment and gemstones .

Buddha image of the Sukhothai period, Thailand

'Bodhisattva Maitreya'. China, 17th-18th century. Dimensions: h. 12,5 cm. Museum: State Hermitage, St. Petersburg.

Tara. Culture: India, Bihar. Dimensions: H. 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm); W. 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm); D. 3 in. (7.6 cm). Date: 12th century.This female bodhisattva holds her hands in dharmachakramudra (gesture of exposition). The stem of a flower would have supported her identifying attribute, now lost. She is likely Prajnaparamita, the wisdom goddess, whose identifier is a manuscript. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Eleven-Headed Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion 10th century Thailand Such multi-armed, eleven-headed images of Avalokiteshvara were important to both Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist practitioners. This kind of representation emphasizes Avalokiteshvara's knowledge as well as his ability to take multiple simultaneous actions on behalf of the devotee.. Eleven-Headed Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion 38959

Sitting monk, anonymous, 1800 - 1900 Statue of a monk sitting on his knees; The hands, presumably folded in worship, have been broken down. Thailand wood (plant material). gilding (material) gilding Statue of a monk sitting on his knees; The hands, presumably folded in worship, have been broken down. Thailand wood (plant material). gilding (material) gilding

Vajrasattva. Vajrasattva with attributes lightning bolt and clock, seated on an unmedged throne.

Jizo Bosatsu (Ksitigarbha). Culture: Japan. Dimensions: H. 45 3/4 in. (116.2 cm); W. 24 1/8 in. (61.3 cm); D. 23 7/8 in. (60.6 cm). Date: second half of the 13th century.Represented in the guise of a Buddhist monk and devoid of the crown and jewels customarily worn by bodhisattvas, Jizo Bosatsu is among the most readily recognizable of the many deities in the Buddhist pantheon and perhaps the most sympathetic. Called Ksitigarbha ("Earth Womb") in Sanskrit, his worship originated in Central Asia. It reached Japan in the eighth century but flourished during the Kamakura period in connection with the Pure Land sects. Although Jizo is invoked for many roles--as protector of travelers, of children, and of women in childbirth--he was especially venerated for his intervention on behalf of those suffering in hell, the lowest of the Six Realms of Existence. He is portrayed as a monk with an open, compassionate expression ready to hear the call of the suffering. In his hand is a traveler's staff

A Preaching Buddha. Central Tibet, 16th-17th century. Sculpture. Brass alloy with paint

BUDDHA. Bronze doré. Par musée musée malée. 51556-10 Buddha, bronze gilded, statuette

Head of a Female Daoist Deity. China, Chinese, Ming dynasty, 16th - early 17th century. Sculpture. Carved stone

Buddha dated 680 China. Buddha. China. dated 680. Marble. Tang dynasty (618-907). Sculpture

Buddhist deity Vajradhara in union with his consort Prajnaparamita. Culture: probably Chinese or Tibetan. Dimensions: Height: 28.6 cm.Width: 12.7 cm.. Date: 1403-24. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Male and Female Shinto Deities 10th century Japan This pair of Shinto deities is represented in human form, wearing Heian court dress to suggest sacred and secular authority. These figures were likely produced in connection with the ancient court practice of honoring the spirit ancestors of aristocratic families as a reward for their political and cultural contributions. The square faces, stout bodies, and deeply carved robes resemble the stylized rendering of early Heian-period Buddhist sculpture.. Male and Female Shinto Deities. Japan. 10th century. Japanese cypress with traces of color. Heian period (ca. 900-1185). Sculpture

Bronze seated figures of Avalokiteshvara, the earthly manifestation of the self-born eternal Buddha Amitabha. Dated 12th Century

Svetambara Enthroned Jina, with Attendant Yaksha and Yakshi. Culture: India (Gujarat). Dimensions: H. 11 1/2 in. (29.2 cm). Date: ca. second half of the 11th century.The jina is represented as a supreme yoga and acharya, an illustrious religious teacher. Elevated on a stepped cushioned throne supported by lions and elephants, symbols of bravery and strength, this tirthankhara embodies the Jain virtue of spiritual wisdom. An openwork back plate (now missing) would have evoked the heavenly palace in which he resides, accompanied by celestial adorers. Hisprincipal attendants--a seated yaksha and yakshi--flank the throne, and kneeling deer listen to the teachings symbolized by the wheel (dharmachakra) at the center of the throne pedestal. This icon was once gilded--traces can still be detected--in keeping with the desire that it emit a sacred aura like that achieved by light reflecting off gold. Indian religions have long seen the ability to absorb and radiate light as indicative of divi

Figurine Usnisavijay sitting on a lotus throne unknown

Prajnaparamita, Goddess of Wisdom 1175-1225 Cambodia. Bronze .

Standing Bodhisattva, probably Maitryeya (Buddha of the Future). Culture: Pakistan (ancient region of Gandhara). Dimensions: H. 23 1/4 in. (59.1 cm); W. 9 1/4 in. (23.5 cm); D. 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm). Date: ca. 3rd century.On the base, small donors venerate the alms bowl of the Buddha, a relic known to have been on display in ancient Gandhara. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

. Buddhism took hold in Japan in the middle of the 6th century. Around 600, the statesman Shotoku Taishi was a major advocate of the new religion. He would later be revered as a deity himself. Here Shotoku Taishi is represented as a child of two, the age at which he is traditionally believed to have worshipped Buddha for the first time. The sculptor has successfully rendered a childlike face, but one that nonetheless conveys great wisdom.

Miniature Shrine with the Enthroned Buddha 12th-13th century Burma. Miniature Shrine with the Enthroned Buddha 39115

Kneeling Female Deity second half of the 12th century Cambodia. Kneeling Female Deity. Cambodia. second half of the 12th century. Bronze. Angkor period. Sculpture

Seated Buddha 1740-86, China, Gilded copper. The Buddha is shown just before his enlightenment when he lowers his right hand to the ground to call the earth goddess to witness his worthiness to attain liberation.

Buddha Shakyamuni. Cup of Buddha Shakyamuni from Gray Limestone; Nose is missing.

Buddha Shakyamuni. Thailand, Sukhothai, 14th-15th century. Sculpture. Copper alloy

Seated Buddha. Culture: Japan. Dimensions: H. 6 5/8 in. (16.9 cm); W. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm); D. 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm). Date: 10th-11th century.This small image probably represents Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, in his enlightened state, seated in the posture of meditation. Short whorls of hair (rahotsu) cover the head, and a cranial protuberance symbolizes his profound wisdom. The hands, which were cast separately, would have formed the characteristic mudras associated with his image: the right, raised and open in a gesture of reassurance, represents the benevolent gift of life without fear that is the result of Buddhist enlightenment; the left, resting on the knee with palm open, extended to the worshipper in a gesture of offering, symbolizes the fulfillment of the Buddha's vow to attain enlightenment and to teach it to all sentient beings. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Seated Jambhala 10th century Nepal, Kathmandu Valley Jambhala, a god of wealth, has his roots in the early yaksha tradition of north India. He can be readily identified from his corpulent form and from the mongoose spitting gems that he holds in his left hand. He is understood to be an emanation of the Buddha Ratnasambhava, and his consort is the goddess Vasudhara, who also is a personification of wealth and abundance.. Seated Jambhala. Nepal, Kathmandu Valley. 10th century. Bronze. Sculpture

Buddha; 19th century (1801-00-00-1900-00-00);

Statue of Buddha Statue of Buddha Copyright: xZoonar.com/StefanoxCavorettox 3096913

Amitaba Buddha in his manifestation of "Boundless Life" sitting holding a vessel containing the nectar of immortality. Tibetan Art. Bronze. 18th century.

Ritual Lamp in the Form of an Astrologer. Nepal, dated 1734. Sculpture. Brass with traces of unguents

Indra, Chief of the Gods. Nepal, Pharping, 16th century. Sculpture. Repoussé copper

Vajradhara Seated Holding a Thunderbolt (Vajra) and Bell (Ghanta) 1401-1500 Tibet. Bronze with traces of pigment .

Buddha. Culture: China. Dimensions: H. 21 3/4 in. (55.2 cm); W. 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm); D. 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm). Date: dated 680. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Enthroned Jina, Probably Neminatha late 7th century India (Gujarat, Akota) An enthroned Jain savior is deep in meditation, seated in a yogic posture on a jeweled cushion set on a two-tiered lion-supported throne. At the center of the pedestal two kneeling deer venerate the wheel-of-law (dharmachakra), a symbol of religious wisdom shared with Buddhism. Seated in royal ease on projecting lotus supports are the yaksha Gomedha and the yakshi Ambika, attendants of the jina Neminatha, the twenty-second in the lineage of twenty-four historical jinas recognized by the Jain religion. On the reverse is a donor's inscription in a seventh-century Sanskrit script.. Enthroned Jina, Probably Neminatha 74501

The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvaram, 18th century AD, Tibet. Four-armed form of Bodhisattva of Compassion, knows as Sadakshari.

East Asian Buddhism. Pure Land Buddhism. Buddha amitabha. From China, Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368). Porcelain. The State Hermitage Museum. Saint Petersburg. Russia.

Manjusri is a bodhisattva associated with transcendent wisdom (Skt. prajna) in Mahayana Buddhism. In Esoteric Buddhism he is also taken as a meditational deity. The Sanskrit name Mañjuśrī can be translated as 'Gentle Glory'. Manjusrī is also known by the fuller Sanskrit name of Manjusrikumarabhuta. Candi Plaosan, also known as the 'Plaosan Complex', is one of the Buddhist temples located in Bugisan village, Prambanan district, Central Java, Indonesia, about a kilometer to the northwest of the renowned Hindu Prambanan Temple. Candi Plaosan covers an area of 2,000 square meters with an elevation of 148 meters above sea level. The Dengok River is located nearby, about 200 meters away. Candi Plaosan is surrounded by paddy fields along with vegetation such as banana and corn.

The bodhisattva Maitreya, India, Jammu and Kashmir, 8th century, bronze, silver. In his left hand Maitreya is holding a mask with the elixir of life, his regular attribute. His right hand is making a gesture that appeals not only in art from Kashmir and Gandhara its meaning has yet to be determined. The bodhisattva is seated on a throne. The lower part has been broken off and therefore lacks its base with lotus leaves curving down.

Wood Carving. Bali, Indonesia.

Karaikkal Ammaiyar, Shaiva Saint. Culture: India (Tamil Nadu). Dimensions: H. 9 1/8 in. (23.2 cm); W. 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm); D. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm). Date: ca. late 13th century.Ammaiyar, a sixth-century South Indian Shaiva poet saint, achieved her emaciated state after beseeching Shiva to free her from all her worldly encumbrances, including her famed beauty. He granted her wish, transforming her into a withered old woman, and she delighted in devoting her life to composing hymns in praise of her Lord. Here, she is seen singing Shiva's praises, accompanying herself with a pair of cymbals. Her hymns celebrate Shiva's predilection for cremation grounds and for his wild dancing form as Nataraja. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Standing Bodhisattva, late 500s. China, Sui dynasty (581-618). Gilt bronze; average: 11.5 cm (4 1/2 in.).

Jizō Bosatsu (Ksitigarbha) second half of the 13th century Japan Represented in the guise of a Buddhist monk and devoid of the crown and jewels customarily worn by bodhisattvas, Jizō Bosatsu is among the most readily recognizable of the many deities in the Buddhist pantheon and perhaps the most sympathetic. Called Ksitigarbha ("Earth Womb") in Sanskrit, his worship originated in Central Asia. It reached Japan in the eighth century but flourished during the Kamakura period in connection with the Pure Land sects. Although Jizō is invoked for many rolesas protector of travelers, of children, and of women in childbirthhe was especially venerated for his intervention on behalf of those suffering in hell, the lowest of the Six Realms of Existence. He is portrayed as a monk with an open, compassionate expression ready to hear the call of the suffering. In his hand is a traveler's staff, its six rings a symbol of the extent of his mercy through all realms of being, and its clinking sound a s

Seated Buddha. Korea, Goryeo dynasty (918-1392), 10th-12th century. Sculpture. Cast bronze with traces of gilding

Bronze Vajradhara Figure, The Capital Museum, Beijing, China

Seated Indra 12th century Nepal (Kathmandu Valley). Seated Indra 38432

Lama Lodrö Wangchuk, born 1402. Central Tibet, Chumig Monastery, 15th-16th century. Sculpture. Gilt copper with paint

Mongolian Buddhism: Statuette of Zanabazar, one of the most influental tulku in Mongolia, 19th century. In Tibetan Buddhism, a tulku is a particular high-ranking lama, of whom the Dalai Lama is one, who can choose the manner of his (or her) rebirth. Normally the lama would be reincarnated as a human, and of the same sex as his (or her) predecessor. However, discussing his own successor, the Dalai Lama has been quoted as saying that 'if a woman reveals herself as more useful the lama could very well be reincarnated in this form'. The Dalai Lama has also said (when speculating about the possibility that his people might have no use for a Dalai Lama after he dies) that he 'might take rebirth as an insect, or an animal..'. In contrast to a tulku, all other sentient beings including other lamas, have no choice as to the manner of their rebirth.

The Bodhisattva Kannon (Avalokiteshvara) mid-11th century Japan Kannon is a compassionate bodhisattva and one of the most popular and most frequently depicted deities in Japanese Buddhism. Here he wears flowing robes and is draped with sashes. Originally, its surface would have been decorated with layers of lacquer, pigments, and mostly likely gold leaf, though today its cypress wood core is completely revealed. The sculpture represents a technical and stylistic transition. Its ample proportions harken back to sculpture of the 900s, while the artists approach to the figures posture and drapery suggests a date to the next century.The manner of carving the head and most of the body out of a single block of wood represents a late modification of the so-called ichiboku-zukuri method at a time when many Japanese Buddhist sculptors were transitioning toward the more efficient multi-block, or yosegi-zukuri, technique.. The Bodhisattva Kannon (Avalokiteshvara). Japan. mid-11th century. Cypre

Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche, 8th century). Central Tibet, 17th century. Sculpture. Ivory

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