Dimensions: 15-1/2" H

Superb, Chinese Ming Dynasty gilt bronze figure of seated Shakyamuni Buddha. Chinese Tibetan gilt bronze Buddha, a Medicine Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha, and a Amitabha Buddha in formal figure. Cast in formal in appearance, gazes forward with partially closed eyes and the blue hair on the head is piled in a tuft on top with a single bulbous pure gold ornament adorning the crown. Adorning the neck are two slightly curved lines. With pendulous earlobes. Across the left shoulder is an patchwork robe. A similar lower garment is tied at the waist with a sash. The legs are folded in vajra posture, right over left, above an oval double lotus throne. This large gilt bronze Buddha characterized with painted seeing eyes and the pendulous earlobes. One with the left hand is extended across the knee with the palm facing outward in the mudra (gesture) of supreme generosity. The right hand placed in the lap performs the mudra of meditation. Seated in the Vajra posture which resembles meditation, and wisdom. This posture was assumed by Buddha while sitting beneath the bodhi tree where enlightenment was supposedly achieved. This Buddha presents a peaceful presence while resting atop a double-lotus pedestal with eyes closed and body covered in diaphanous robes. His head is topped with the traditional bun adorned at the apex by a single ornament and his ears have been traditionally pierced and elongated. Bronze is in beautiful condition with minimal marring of the surface. Extensive trace of gilt remain on surfaces and blue pigment on hair.


LOT NOTES:
Shakyamuni, the Historical Buddha, was born in the 6th century B.C. in Lumbini, present day Nepal, achieved enlightenment at the age of thirty five, and spent the remaining forty five years of his life preaching his doctrine of salvation to others. Shakyamuni refers to the last of the “seven Buddhas” saptatathagata as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha. Shakyamuni in Sanskrit, Shakyamuni in Pali. The founder of Buddhism. He was born as the Prince of Sakyans, and was called Siddhartha Gautama. At the age of 35, he attained the supreme Enlightenment and became the Buddha and was the called Shakyamuni. The word means "capability and kindness". Shakyamuni :One of the Thirty five buddhas of confession, according to the Triskhandhadharmasutra Sutra of the Three Heaps7, which is a Mahayana sutra. The sutra describes the practice of purifying the transgressions of vows especially the Bodhisattva-vows, by making prostrations to these Buddhas. Shakyamuni Buddha, the historical Buddha, is not the first and only buddha. The buddha who will follow Shakyamuni in a future age and renew the dharma is Maitreya. Be­yond these, one finds indications in the litera­ture of thirteen further buddhas, of which the most important is Dipamkara, whose disci­ple Shakyamuni was in his previous existence as the ascetic Sumedha. The stories of these leg­endary buddhas are contained in the Buddhavamsa, a work from the Khuddaka­nikaya.

Over all in EXCELLENT condition. With normal anomalies in nature, sign of stressed surface, minor scratch & dents. Surface traced wear and or declined to gilding. Normal, consider ages and wear.
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