18TH CENTURY

Buddhism flourished during the Qing dynasty, and was encouraged by the devotion of the Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong emperors and their successors. As a result of its popularity, the production of Buddhist statuary, ritual objects, vessels and other implements became widespread, and a variety of materials was employed in their manufacture, especially jade and gilt bronze. The present figure is unusual in that the torso is left bare, perhaps to highlight the color of the stone, whereas most jade Buddha figures are shown wearing layered robes, such as the white jade figure shown in a similar pose illustrated in Zhongguo yuqi quanji, Qing, vol. 6, Hebei, 1994, p. 227, pl. 334.