 |
Embroidery of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
|
| |
|
Embroidery of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
CHINA; Five Dynasties (907–960); Linen; 23 x 11 cm; State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia
This unique embroidery of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva was created in Central Asia during the 10th century. It was acquired by Nikolai Nikolaevich Krotkov, the Russian consul in Urumqi, in 1907.
Avalokitesvara has a round face with an urna, open eyes, large ears, and long hair. The Bodhisattva wears a headdress with an Amitabha Buddha image, as well as a pair of wheel-shape earrings and other jewelry. An inner robe with a floral pattern covers both shoulders, and the outer robe is blue with a wavy design along the hem. The right hand performs the vitarka (teaching) mudra, while the left holds a vase. Behind the barefoot Avalokitesvara is a round nimbus and a mandorla in the shape of a lotus petal. |
