Bodhisattva
Figure
534 (made)
534 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This gilt bronze figure represents a Bodhisattva, a holy being who has obtained the final enlightenment and has chosen to return to the world to help humanity. It is a very rare example of devotional image from the Eastern Wei dynasty (534-577). Images of Bodhisattva were used in temples and shrines, and were particularly popular among devotees. The inscription on this example dates the object to AD 534 and mentions a placed called Tangxian in north China where this piece was probably made. Only two other examples of this type survive from the period, one in the Freer Gallery in Washington DC, the other in a private Japanese collection.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Bodhisattva (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Gilt bronze |
| Brief description | Met, China, human figures |
| Physical description | Gilt bronze figure of Bodhisattva Guanyin on a three-tiered pedestal set against a large flame-shaped halo. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | (Date; Chinese; 534 AD) |
| Credit line | Purchased with Art Fund support, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This gilt bronze figure represents a Bodhisattva, a holy being who has obtained the final enlightenment and has chosen to return to the world to help humanity. It is a very rare example of devotional image from the Eastern Wei dynasty (534-577). Images of Bodhisattva were used in temples and shrines, and were particularly popular among devotees. The inscription on this example dates the object to AD 534 and mentions a placed called Tangxian in north China where this piece was probably made. Only two other examples of this type survive from the period, one in the Freer Gallery in Washington DC, the other in a private Japanese collection. |
| Bibliographic reference | Yetts C1 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.154-1938 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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