Wutaishan Guangji Temple Great Hero Hall: Sakyamuni Buddha
Clay
Wutaishan Guangji Temple Great Hero Hall: Sakyamuni Buddha
CHINA, Shanxi, Xinzhou; Yuan dynasty
The statue is located in the Great Hero Hall and was sculpted from 1341 to 1367 during the Yuan dynasty. The Buddha is flanked by the disciples Mahakasyapa and Ananda, who stand with hands in anjali (reverence) mudra.
Sakyamuni is seated in full lotus position and raises the right hand in lotus mudra. The figure wears a monastic robe that leaves the right shoulder bare, the excess material spilling down the throne in decorative folds. The throne is supported by a hexagonal Sumeru platform, decorated with geometric patterns along the edges. Each corner of the platform rests on the shoulders of warriors. The ornate mandorla is in openwork, and intricately trellised with scrolling flames. It incorporates garuda birds among vine-like flowers. The vines emerge from the mouths of dragons at the bottom.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture St-Z, page 1352.
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 = 1352,
title = {{Wutaishan Guangji Temple Great Hero Hall: Sakyamuni Buddha}},
volume = 13,
year = {2016}}