Seated Bodhisattva

CHINA; Liao to Jin dynasty

The Bodhisattva is seated in full lotus position with hands in mudras. A braid of hair is wound about the head, with a few locks escaping to the shoulders. The rest of the hair is swept into an exaggerated topknot held in place by a wooden ornament. The relatively large hole in the forehead once contained the stud of an urna. The neck has the three lines that signify a great person and is covered by a simple necklace. A more ornate neck ornament crosses the entire chest with pendants hanging from rosettes and is worn over a belted jacket with flared upper sleeves. Another ornament is visible just below the waist. In front of the legs, a pool of cloth spreads out in a fan-like arrangement.