Rare Ming Infant Buddha, China, (16488)

Description

According to Buddhist scriptures the conception and birth of Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, were miraculous. Immediately after birth, he walked in seven directions, one hand pointing to heavens, the other to earth symbolizing his supremacy over all realms and lotus sprung up around him.

This carving is astonishing because of how it survived.The body was carved from one wood piece with holes to insert the separately carved arms.  As with many Chinese antique woodcarvings, the body and arms deteriorated from insects and weathering, but the face has been remarkably preserved. The infested wood eating insects (now halted) ate away at the piece but left it virtually untouched from the neck up.

According to scriptures, the Buddha  was born as is a baby mature beyond its years . Although presented here with the body and demeanor of an adult, his infancy is confirmed with the carving of strands of baby hair in the middle of his head (also an association with Buddhist monks), softs features, and baby fat cheeks of a newborns. Originally painted using polychrome, parts of his red attire remain along with the black, grey, and red of his lips. The three rings around his neck have partially survived, and the rest of the body has been worn to a delicately smooth but irregular surface.

Buddha statues are very rare as they were infrequently displayed on home altars, although given its size, this one might have been.The day of his birth takes place on a full moon and is celebrated as Fódàn in China in Mahayana Buddhism or Vesak in Southeast Asia in Theravada Buddhism which commemorates the triple event of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death.

Mounted on a frosted acrylic base to complement any decor.This is a piece for lovers of wood and the miracle of chance, as its current state is possibly more attractive and striking to many carved wood lovers than the original finished piece might have been.