CHINE, FIN DE LA DYNASTIE MING (1368-1644)

The present image of the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, is a paragon of the Tibetan sculptural tradition. The Buddha is seated in vajrasana, the classical diamond posture, recalling the seminal moment when he attained enlightenment under the bodhi tree in Bodhgaya where the Mahabodhi Temple now stands. With his right hand, he touches the ground in the gesture of bhumisparshamudra, asking the earth to bear witness to the truth of his teachings. He is calling upon the earth to bear witness to the truth of his teachings and his victory over Mara, the god of desire, who had tried to distract him. This particular iconographic form is the most often depicted in Buddhism as it captures the ultimate moment in which Shakyamuni triumphed over his final obstacle to spiritual liberation. His elongated earlobes, weighed down by the heavy earrings of his former princely life, represent his rejection of worldly goods. His simple robe leaves his right shoulder bare.
The upper register of the mandorla is ornamented with a central depiction of Garuda, flanked by finely rendered flying celestials. Beneath this, a pair of addorsed makaras with gracefully scrolling tails emerge on either side of the halo framing the head of Shakyamuni. Further enlivening the composition are vajras, Buddhist lions, and dynamic figures mounted on animals, completing a richly layered and symbolically charged decorative programme.