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Standing Bodhisattva
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Standing Bodhisattva
CHINA; Song dynasty (960–1279), 10th–11th century; Wood;H: 115.5 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
The Bodhisattva stands in a dramatic posture. The turned head tilts up with eyes gazing down; the rounded face with its floral headdress appears engrossed in concentration. The right hand extends upward, with the palm facing inward, while the left falls loosely away from the body maintaining balance. The upper garment secured by a complicated series of knotted sashes is vividly delineated. A simple skirt below the upper garment covers the ankles. The left knee is bent and shifts the body 's weight onto the right leg.
This fluent and realistically sculpture epitomizes the trend towards secularization seen in Buddhist statuary of the Song (960–1279), Liao (907–1125), and Jin (1115–1234) dynasties. |
