A Buddha statue or painting is called a Buddharupa, “the form of an Enlightened One” in Sanskrit. Cannons were soon developed dictating how he should be portrayed, identifying 32 Buddhist lakshanas “auspicious marks” or physical traits that should be reflected in sanctified Buddha images. They included an elongated body, face, fingers, arms, hands and ears; a tuft of hair between the eyebrows (urna) and a cranial protuberance (ushnisha). His head was to be covered with pointed or spiral curls often referred to as a snail crowned. Lakshanas were closely followed in Theravada Buddhism, but many interpretations and variances were incorporated in Mahayana and later Buddhist sects. He is most often shown seated two positions: meditation (dhyana mudra) which he assumed when meditating under the Bodhi tree before attaining enlightenment that represents perfect physical and spiritual balance and Earth Witnessing (bhumisparsha mudra) as he reaches the right hand to touch the earth to call witness to resisting the temptations of demon Mara and reaching enlightenment. He generally sits on a lotus pedestal or throne called a padmapita wearing a three-part monk’s robe (dhoti). Shakyamuni is the fourth Buddha of the present kalpa (era) and will be followed by the fifth, Maitreya (Mi-lo-Fu) in three thousand years.
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This extraordinary carving is Shakyamuni Buddha in the Earth Witnessing hand position called Bhumisparsha. It is one of the four major events in his life – his Birth, Enlightenment, First Sermon and Death – which are most often portrayed in Southeast Asian Theravada Buddhism. His right hand symbolically reaches to touch the earth to call…
This carved meditation Ming Shakyamuni Buddha radiates serenity with downcast eyes and slightly smiling mouth. Small Buddha carved images are rare as they were generally not used on home shrines, and many were lost during China’s modernization. As it is consecrated it may have been in a community shrine.
Although this rare Ming image is missing its arms, it is a powerful yet charming sculpture of the infant Buddha as humble and confident with a youthful torso.
Rare provincial home altar consecrated gender neutral Guanyin is in meditation on lotus throne wearing five-lobed crown symbolically representing the 5 Dyhani Buddhas in the Vajrayana Tantric tradition.
With a benevolent expression, this rare large Ming Buddha sits on lotus pedestal signifying his purity and enlightenment. Originally placed in a Mahayana Buddhism spiritual setting, this important and brilliantly carved image is calming, inspiring and imparts a feeling of serenity to his surroundings.
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