Jokhang Temple Central Hall Maitreya Shrine: Maitreya Bodhisattva
Gilt copper alloy
Jokhang Temple Central Hall Maitreya Shrine: Maitreya Bodhisattva
CHINA, Tibet, Lhasa
The statue was created around the 15th century and depicts Maitreya Bodhisattva seated with legs pendent on a throne. The figure wears a five-leaf crown that is decorated with a Buddha niche on each leaf. The Bodhisattva’s partially closed eyes are downcast. Both hands hold long-stemmed lotuses with a vase resting atop the flower on the right and a Dharma wheel atop the lotus on the left. The whole figure is gilded and clad in brocade, while the crown and chest ornaments are inlaid with jewels. The lavish mandorla is gilt copper and decorated with various bas-relief images that include garudas and dragons. The mandorla also incorporates a rimmed aureole and nimbus.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture G-M, page 504.
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 G-M},
pages = 504,
title = {{Jokhang Temple Central Hall Maitreya Shrine: Maitreya Bodhisattva}},
volume = 11,
year = {2016}}