Sakyamuni and Prabhutaratna Buddhas

CHINA; Northern Wei dynasty

The presence of the two Buddhas seated side by side is mentioned in the Lotus Sutra. The statue was taken to Japan and listed as an Important Cultural Property in 1979.
The two Buddhas are seated full lotus position and identical in appearance. Sakyamuni wears a monastic robe that leaves the right shoulder bare and his right hand is held sideways in abhaya (fearlessness) mudra. Prabhutaratna Buddha wears a robe that covers both shoulders and his hands are in dhyana (meditation) mudra. Both figures have a lotus nimbus and an enclosing mandorla.
There is a columned pavilion with an ogee arch above them, while a petal-shaped back panel unites the whole composition. The back of the mandorla shows a Buddha triad. The work is supported on a stand with an unusual butterfly design cut from the sides. The legs of the stand include two figures holding lotus flowers. An inscription on the stand states the statue was dedicated in 489 by Kuan Fasheng and his three brothers for their deceased parents.