Lot Essay
Amitabha is one of the five Tathagatas, or the five Great Buddhas of Wisdom, each corresponding to the five directions of space (the four cardinal points and the zenith). Amongst this pantheon includes Mahavairocana (zenith), Aksobhya (east), Ratnasambhava (south) and Amoghasiddhi (north). Amitabha, representing the westerly direction, is the historical Buddha Sakyamuni Gautama, and is known as 'He whose splendour is immeasurable'; the Buddha of the beyond, death and the afterlife.
The present image is closely related to similar examples dated to the late Ming period, such as the late Ming dynasty figure of Buddha Sakyamuni with hand gesture in Dharmacakra mudra, sold in these Rooms, 26/27 April, 1998, lot 615. Compare also a comparable figure of Buddha Sakyamuni dated to the early Qing period, sold in our New York Rooms, l9 September 2006, lot 135.
The present image is closely related to similar examples dated to the late Ming period, such as the late Ming dynasty figure of Buddha Sakyamuni with hand gesture in Dharmacakra mudra, sold in these Rooms, 26/27 April, 1998, lot 615. Compare also a comparable figure of Buddha Sakyamuni dated to the early Qing period, sold in our New York Rooms, l9 September 2006, lot 135.