Nativity Scene: The Birth of the Buddha

9th century

Brooklyn Museum photograph

Object Label

According to Buddhist scripture, Prince Siddhartha was born miraculously, emerging from his mother’s side as she stood under a tree. It was immediately clear from his appearance and behavior that he was a special child. He had a bump on his head (ushnisha), a spot between his eyes (urna), and a golden glow. The newborn also took seven steps.

Caption

Nativity Scene: The Birth of the Buddha, 9th century. Gray schist, 15 1/2 x 9 x 4 1/8 in. (39.4 x 22.9 x 10.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased with funds given by the Charles Bloom Foundation Inc. in memory of Charles and Mildred Bloom, 85.223.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 85.223.2_PS2.jpg)

Title

Nativity Scene: The Birth of the Buddha

Date

9th century

Period

Pala Period

Geography

Place made: Bihar, India

Medium

Gray schist

Classification

Sculpture

Dimensions

15 1/2 x 9 x 4 1/8 in. (39.4 x 22.9 x 10.5 cm)

Credit Line

Purchased with funds given by the Charles Bloom Foundation Inc. in memory of Charles and Mildred Bloom

Accession Number

85.223.2

Rights

Creative Commons-BY

You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

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