Not currently on display at the V&A

Amitabha

Figure
17th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
China (made)

Amitabha, the Buddha of infinite light, is believed to dwell in the Western Paradise, a pure land where the faithful can be reborn. He is sitting in the lotus position, soles of the feet upwards, with hands in the gesture of meditation and a facial expression of deep concentration. His throne is in the form of an open lotus flower, the upper row of petals pointing upwards towards Amitabha. His five-peaked crown encircles hair arranged in rows of tight curls, rising to a large protrusion or ushnisha, a sign of wisdom and enlightenment. He wears floral ear jewellery.

Amitabha came to the V & A as one of a pair of figures, slightly under life-size. His companion figure is a lotus-bearing deity, probably the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.


Object details

Categories
Metalwork
Sculpture
Buddhism
Object type
Figure
TitleAmitabha (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Bronze
Brief description
Figure of a Buddhist divinity seated on a lotus throne
Physical description
Figure of Amitabha seated on a lotus throne, the hands folded in the lap, palms upwards
Dimensions
  • Height: 92.7cm
Gallery label
  • Amituofu About 1650 Qing dynasty China Bronze Amituofu (known in Sanskrit as Amitabha) is the Buddha who promises salvation to all believers. He lives in the Sukhavati, or Pure Land paradise. Here, he sits cross-legged and narrow-eyed, with an expression of deep concentration and his hands in the gesture of meditation, dhyana mudra, with thumbs touching and palms facing upward. Sir Ratan Tata Collection Museum no. M.297A-1920(1/4/2009)
  • Amituofu About 1650 Qing dynasty China Bronze Amituofu (known in Sanskrit as Amitabha) is the Buddha who promises salvation to all believers. He lives in the Sukhavati, or Pure Land paradise. Here, he sits cross legged and narrow eyed, with an expression of deep concentration and his hands in the gesture of meditation, dhyana mudra, with thumbs touching and palms facing upward. Sir Ratan Tata Collection Museum no. M.297A-1920(2009)
Historical context
From the Sir Ratan Tata Collection
Subjects depicted
阿彌陀佛
禪定印
吉祥坐
冠
頭飾
耳飾
白毫
袍
腰巾
鐲
蓮座
紋飾
Summary
Amitabha, the Buddha of infinite light, is believed to dwell in the Western Paradise, a pure land where the faithful can be reborn. He is sitting in the lotus position, soles of the feet upwards, with hands in the gesture of meditation and a facial expression of deep concentration. His throne is in the form of an open lotus flower, the upper row of petals pointing upwards towards Amitabha. His five-peaked crown encircles hair arranged in rows of tight curls, rising to a large protrusion or ushnisha, a sign of wisdom and enlightenment. He wears floral ear jewellery.

Amitabha came to the V & A as one of a pair of figures, slightly under life-size. His companion figure is a lotus-bearing deity, probably the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
M.297A-1920

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Record createdMay 6, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O154121/amitabha-figure-unknown/
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