Crowned Buddha Seated in a Niche
Asian Art
On View: Asian Galleries, Southwest, 2nd floor
This Buddha figure makes the gesture of teaching. Buddhist law, known as dharma, is symbolized by a spoked wheel; when a teacher makes a wheel shape with his fingers and touches it with his other hand, he “turns the wheel of the law,” thereby dispersing the truth. This bejeweled figure might be read as the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, who is said to wear a crown when he preaches in the heavens, or it could be Vairochana, a celestial Buddha who is often represented making the teaching gesture.
MEDIUM
Schist
DATES
9th–10th century
PERIOD
Pala Period
DIMENSIONS
22 7/16 × 13 3/16 × 2 3/4 in., 87 lb. (57 × 33.5 × 7 cm, 39.46kg)
mount (with object): 22 1/2 × 15 × 4 3/4 in. (57.2 × 38.1 × 12.1 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Asian Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
27.67
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Frederic B. Pratt
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is on view in Asian Galleries, Southwest, 2nd floor
CAPTION
Crowned Buddha Seated in a Niche, 9th–10th century. Schist, 22 7/16 × 13 3/16 × 2 3/4 in., 87 lb. (57 × 33.5 × 7 cm, 39.46kg). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Frederic B. Pratt, 27.67. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 27.67_acetate_bw.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 27.67_acetate_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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