Vairocana Buddha
Gilt copper alloy
Vairocana Buddha
CHINA; Southern Song dynasty
An inscription found on the statue dates it to 1163 and states that it was a commission by Zhang Xingming, an official of the Dali Kingdom (937–1253). The statue was taken overseas for some time before returning to China, and was added to the collection of Shanghai Museum in 1999.
Vairocana is presented in simple monastic robes with the right shoulder bared. The figure sits in half lotus position with the right hand in bhumisparsa (earth-touching) mudra. A flame-shaped jewel is at the crest of the usnisa and a rounded jewel is located just before the usnisa. Other Buddha characteristics include an urna, elongated earlobes, and the three lines on the neck.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture St-Z, page 1284.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Lovelock, Yann and Chou, Yuan and Huntington, Susan and Edson, Gary and Neather, Robert,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture St-Z},
pages = 1284,
title = {{Vairocana Buddha}},
volume = 13,
year = {2016}}