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Sakyamuni Buddha and Attendants
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Sakyamuni Buddha and Attendants
CHINA; Northern Wei dynasty (386–534), dated 494; Commissioned by Yin Shouguo; Sandstone; H: 53.4 cm; Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
This sculpture depicts a Buddha and two attendant Bodhisattvas. The Buddha has a high, bulbous usnisa, and disproportionately large ears. The figure wears a monastic robe across the left shoulder with the end draped over the right side. The Buddha's right hand displays the abhaya (fearlessness) mudra while the left hand holds the fold of the robe in place. The ends of the robe spill onto the surface of the throne where two lions, a mountain censer, and two figures are supporting the upper tier. The flame-patterned mandorla includes eleven seated Buddhas and a lotus nimbus surrounded by more flames. The two smaller Bodhisattvas stand obliquely on pedestals. One of the figures has hands held in the anjali (reverence) mudra while the other figure holds items in both hands.
The overall style is similar to other statues found at the Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi. The material is most likely from the same province. An inscription on the back of the statue states it was dedicated in 494 by Yin Shouguo. |
