NARRATOR:
This impressive sculpture represents the Buddha, who stands gracefully with his right hand lowered in the gesture of gift bestowing. Buddhas are easy to recognize. Since they have abandoned the material world, they wear only simple monk’s robes and usually no jewelry.
The Buddha’s traditional garments consist of two large rectangular pieces of cloth. One is wrapped around the waist, represented here by a line, and the other is draped over the shoulders. At the ankles, you can see two lines where the hemlines fall at different levels.
The Buddha's elongated earlobes refer to his early life as Prince Siddhartha, when he wore heavy earrings. He removed them when he left his father's palace and gave up all his possessions. The holes left in his ears remind the faithful that they, too, should reject worldly goods and pleasures. Siddhartha also cut off his long hair, and it miraculously formed shell-shaped curls.
Other marks indicating the Buddha’s superhuman nature include the bump on top of his head, representing expanded wisdom, and three lines around his neck, a sign of godly beauty.
Buddha Shakyamuni
12th century
Asia: Nepal
Not on View
Images of the Buddha from the Himalayan region of Tibet and Nepal are characterized by graceful postures and elegant modeling. The palm of the Buddha's right hand is marked with the lotus flower and displays the gesture of charity. While his form and iconography relate to Nepali Buddha images, the traces of indigo pigment in his hair demonstrate that he once graced a monastery in Tibet.
Details
- Title: Buddha Shakyamuni
- Date: 12th century
- Medium: Gilt-copper alloy with traces of pigment
- Dimensions: 27-1/2 in. (69.9 cm)
- Credit Line: The Norton Simon Foundation
- Accession Number: F.1972.45.12.S
- Copyright: © The Norton Simon Foundation
Object Information
Painting and Sculpture from Nepal, Tibet and Northwest India
- Norton Simon Museum, 1994-09-22 to 1997-06-01
- Knoke, Christine, Minerva, fig. 16 p. 30
- Fisher, Robert E., Asian Art: Selections from the Norton Simon Museum, fig. 9 pp. 54-55
- Schroeder, Ulrich von, Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, 1981, no. 109E pp. 416, 422-423
- Pal, Pratapaditya, Asian Art at the Norton Simon Museum, Volume 2: Art from the Himalayas & China, 2003, no. 49 pp. 20, 78, 80-81
- McArthur, Meher, The Arts of Asia: A Guide to the Materials, Techniques and Styles, 2005, p. 180
- Campbell, Sara, Collector Without Walls: Norton Simon and His Hunt for the Best, 2010, cat. 876 p. 347
Image reproduction permission may be granted for scholarly or arts related commercial use. All image requests, regardless of their intended purpose, should be submitted via the reproduction request form.
Images may be protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights. Additional permission may be required.
Approved requests for the reproduction of an image will receive a contract detailing all fees and conditions of use of the image. Upon receipt of both the signed contract and full payment, the Office of Rights and Reproductions will provide the image. A complimentary copy of the published material must be provided to the Norton Simon Museum.