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Potala Palace: Tapestry of Four-Armed Avalokitesvara
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Potala Palace: Tapestry of Four-Armed Avalokitesvara
CHINA, Tibet, Lhasa; 17th–20th century; Silk; 235 x 83 cm
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva wears a crown and has a topknot with a round face, small eyes, broad forehead, and long ears with earrings. The upper body is bare and decorated with a necklace, armlets, and bracelets, and a stole runs over the shoulders down to the legs. A light red dhoti covers the lower body and on the waist, there is a jeweled belt. The Bodhisattva sits in full lotus position on a multi-layer Sumeru throne. The palms of two hands are joined in reverence and the other two gently hold beads and flowers. At the back, there are a nimbus, an aureole and a mandorla with a flame pattern along the edge. The Six-Syllables Mantra is written above the statue.
The Sumeru throne is supported by multi-layer lotus leaves, below which are lotus buds along with leaf and vine designs. There follow three lines of prayers in Tibetan. |
