Bodhisattva in Contemplation

CHINA; Northern Qi dynasty

The Bodhisattva is depicted sitting in the relaxation posture and the right hand contemplatively touching the jaw, a position commonly referred to as the “pensive pose.” The figure wears a crown and smiles gently. The upper body is adorned with necklace, armlets, and bracelets. The lower body wears a rippling skirt with stylized folds. The Bodhisattva sits above a lotus pond, and a small bloom rises from the pond to support the figure’s left foot. A foliated border encircles the nimbus behind the Bodhisattva’s head. The decorative leaves of the dragon tree under which Maitreya will ultimately attain enlightenment grow out of the encircling foliage. Carved from a single block of marble, the statue was originally painted and some of the paint is still visible.