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Lot Essay
For closely related figures of monks of comparable size, also dated to the Tang dynasty, see O. Sirén, Chinese Sculpture from the Fifth to the Fourteenth Century, vol. II, Bangkok, 1998 ed., pls. 371B and 374. A similar figure, dated to the Sui dynasty, from the Nelson-Atkins Gallery of Art is illustrated in Chinese Art in Overseas Collections: Buddhist Sculpture II, Taipei, 1990, no. 95, p.99.
The figure is likely Buddha's disciple Ananda, who together with Kasyapa, is often portrayed flanking images of Buddha. Ananda is portrayed as a youth with his hands clasped in front of him, while Kasyapa is shown as being elderly, with his hands held together at chest level. One such pairing, dating to the Tang dynasty, can been seen at the Foguang Si in Shanxi, illustrated in Zhongguo Meishu Quanji, vol 4, no. 48, p. 47. Another from the Zhenguo Si is illustrated in Shanxi Fojiao Caisu, Hong Kong, 1991, pl. 3.
The figure is likely Buddha's disciple Ananda, who together with Kasyapa, is often portrayed flanking images of Buddha. Ananda is portrayed as a youth with his hands clasped in front of him, while Kasyapa is shown as being elderly, with his hands held together at chest level. One such pairing, dating to the Tang dynasty, can been seen at the Foguang Si in Shanxi, illustrated in Zhongguo Meishu Quanji, vol 4, no. 48, p. 47. Another from the Zhenguo Si is illustrated in Shanxi Fojiao Caisu, Hong Kong, 1991, pl. 3.