<em>Seated Buddha Shakyamuni</em>, 965 or 1025. Gilt bronze, 8 1/2 x 7 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (21.6 x 18.4 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Asian Art Council in memory of Mahmood T. Diba and Mary Smith Dorward Fund, 1999.42. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1999.42_detail_SL3.jpg)

Seated Buddha Shakyamuni, 965 or 1025. Gilt bronze, 8 1/2 x 7 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (21.6 x 18.4 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Asian Art Council in memory of Mahmood T. Diba and Mary Smith Dorward Fund, 1999.42. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1999.42_detail_SL3.jpg)

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Seated Buddha Shakyamuni

Asian Art

On View: Asian Galleries, Southwest, 2nd floor

Seated and dressed in a long, flowing, Chinese-style robe, this image represents the historical Buddha Shakyamuni. He manifests the physical attributes of the Buddha, including elongated earlobes, snail-curl hair, cranial bump (ushnisha), and a distinctive mark between his eyes (urna). He also displays the gesture of preaching with his right hand and the vow-fulfilling gesture with his left. The gleaming surface of the gilded bronze was intended to symbolize the sun-like radiance of the Buddha’s body. On the back is a rare four-character inscription—“made in the yi chou year” (yi chou sui zao)—enabling us to ascribe this Buddha to either 965 or 1025.

MEDIUM Gilt bronze

Place Made: Yunnan province, China

DATES 965 or 1025

DYNASTY Dali kingdom

DIMENSIONS 8 1/2 x 7 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (21.6 x 18.4 x 12.1 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Asian Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 1999.42

CREDIT LINE Gift of the Asian Art Council in memory of Mahmood T. Diba and Mary Smith Dorward Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Gilt bronze figure of Buddha Sakyamuni, shown seated cross-legged with right hand raised in a gesture to be identified, with two fingers crossed, and left hand extended in varamudra. The serene figure is wearing a long flowing robe with wide sleeves, crossed over in front and fallen in wide pleated folds, with the sanghati tied at the left shoulder. The figure has a broad round face with ridged eyebrows and a prominent urna. Heavily lidded eyes are set in a quiet introspective gaze and the ears have long, pendulous lobes. The ungilded hair is arranged in tight curls and represented by rows of rounded knobs, with demi-florette shaped ornament in the center front. Four characters are inscribed on the back towards the base which read "yichou sui zao". This inscription translates to 'made in the yi chou year' and indicates the second year of a sixty year cycle, either 965 or 1025 AD. The Qidans (Khitans) of the Liao Dynasty were hunting and pastoral people who originated from eastern Inner Mongolia and occupied North China under the auspices of the Liao Dynasty from 907 to 1125. Although the Qidans actively retained many traditions of their originary steppe culture, they were heavily influenced by the Chinese in terms of society and culture. Buddhism also had an impact on Qidan religious and ritual practices as evident by the number of Liao dynasty Buddhist objects known, particularly gilt bronze figures of Buddhist deities. Condition: Intact and in excellent condition. Some slight wear of gilt on surface. Hairline crack on two fingers and a tiny dent in front center of costume. Casting flaw under chin.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Asian Galleries, Southwest, 2nd floor

CAPTION Seated Buddha Shakyamuni, 965 or 1025. Gilt bronze, 8 1/2 x 7 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (21.6 x 18.4 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Asian Art Council in memory of Mahmood T. Diba and Mary Smith Dorward Fund, 1999.42. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1999.42_detail_SL3.jpg)

IMAGE detail, 1999.42_detail_SL3.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2023

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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