Ruiguang Temple Pagoda: Seated Buddhas

CHINA, Jiangsu, Suzhou; Song dynasty

These statues were discovered in the heavenly palace on the third story of the pagoda in 1978. The framed Buddhas are similarly depicted. They sit in full lotus position on a lotus pedestal with hands in dhyana (meditation) mudra. Their monastic robe leaves the right shoulder bared. The openwork mandorla incorporates a solid many-petaled lotus nimbus. The statue that has lost its mandorla features a Buddha with right arm most likely raised in vitarka (teaching) mudra and wearing a differently styled monastic robe. Normal Buddha statues depict Buddhas with individually curled hair, while the statues here have their curls indicated by cross hatching.