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Todaiji Temple Shosoin: Seated Bodhisattva
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Todaiji Temple Shosoin: Seated Bodhisattva
JAPAN, Nara; Nara period (710–794); Ink on linen; 138.5 x 133 cm; Todaiji Temple Shosoin, Nara, Japan
This ink drawing belonging to the Todaiji Temple Shosoin is one of the few Buddhist paintings remaining from the Nara period (710-794). Portrayed with a rounded face, thick eyebrows, small lips, and long ears, the Bodhisattva sits on a cloud, gazes downwards, and forms a mudra with each hand. Although the waist is quite slender, the figure does not appear disproportionate. The high topknot rises above a headdress. A stole is draped around the arms and billows up in a circle around the head.
The picture is drawn with strong and powerful ink lines of varying thicknesses that give the image a three-dimensional appearance. The floating stole recalls the work of the Tang dynasty (618-907) artist Wu Daozi. |
