Page 56 - Bonhams Image of Devotion Hong Kong December 2, 2021

An Amitayus preserved at the Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena (Fig.1, 2001.1.47)
is the only other Ming Vajrayana Buddhist wooden sculpture known to survive.
It depicts an esoteric form of the long-life deity in passionate embrace with his
consort. Most likely belonging to the same set as the current lot, the Pacific Asia
Museum sculpture is of identical size and medium, and exhibits similar stylistic
details – from the sophisticated jewelry and patterned robes, to the distinctive
lotus base. The two would have been placed together in a chapel or similar
setting, and, according to Weldon, “most likely in close proximity to the heart of
Tibetan Buddhist activity in China, the imperial court at Beijing” (see Sotheby’s,
New York, 16 September 2008, lot 173).

The rarity of the present sculpture extends to its subject matter. The male
figure represents Jinasagara (‘Ocean of Conquerors’), an esoteric form of
Avalokiteshvara, the Lord of Compassion. He is shown in union with his
consort Guhyajnana Dakini, who wraps her arms around the bodhisattva,
wielding a kartrika knife in her right hand. A rare meditational deity, Jinasagara
Avalokiteshvara originated from the ‘Revealed Treasure’ tradition of the Nyingma
School, and was predominantly worshipped in the Karma Kagyu tradition. Here he
holds his primary hands in anjali mudra around his consort, with his two secondary
hands raised on either side, framing his imposing silhouette. His upper hands
would have held a mala and a lotus flower. From the 15th century onward, this
special iconographic form of Avalokiteshvara was depicted in Tibetan thangkas
and woodblock prints, but almost never appeared in three-dimensional images.
The only other known sculptural representation of the deity is a Yongle-marked
gilt bronze figure held at the Royal Tropical Institute Museum, Amsterdam (see
Van Alphen, Cast for Eternity, 2004, p.218, no.76). The present work is therefore
among the earliest visual representations of Jinasagara as well as one of the only
two recorded sculptures of the deity from any period.

Fig.1
A gilt lacquer polychrome wood figure of
Amitayus and consort
Early Ming dynasty
56.2 cm (22 1/8 in.) high
USC Pacific Asia Museum Collection, Gift
from the Nancy King Collection (2001.1.47)
© USC Pacific Asia Museum

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