Page 126 - Christie's Hong Kong Important Chinese Works Of Art May 30 2022

SEATED VAJRADHARA,

THE PRIMORDIAL BUDDHA

ROBERT D. MOWRY, ALAN J. DWORSKY CURATOR OF CHINESE ART EMERITUS,
HARVARD ART MUSEUMS, AND SENIOR CONSULTANT, CHRISTIE’S

Created in the imperial workshops in Beijing during the Yongle reign Vajrayana Buddhism, which is often translated into English as the
(1403–1424) of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), this exquisite gilt- “Thunderbolt Vehicle” or “Diamond Vehicle”, is a form of Tantric,
bronze sculpture represents the Buddha Vajradhara, the Primordial or Esoteric, Buddhism that developed in India and neighbouring
Buddha, who is known in Chinese as Jingang Zongchi (and, in countries, notably Nepal and Tibet. In the long history of Buddhism,
shortened form, as Jingangchi). Although widely worshipped in Nepal Vajrayana marks the transition from the speculative thought of
and Tibet, Vajradhara was only infrequently venerated in China and Mahayana Buddhism to the enactment of Buddhist ideals in individual
thus is seldom represented in Chinese Buddhist art, marking this as an life. In the name “Vajrayana”, vajra , means “thunderbolt”, “diamond”,
exceptionally rare sculpture and thus of signal importance. or “adamantine” and signifies the absolutely real and indestructible
in a human being, as opposed to the fictions an individual entertains
The hands crossed at the wrists before the chest and holding a vajra, about himself and his nature, while yana refers to the spiritual pursuit
or “thunderbolt scepter”, and a ghanta, or prayer-bell, identify this of the ultimately valuable and indestructible.
figure as Vajradhara, the Adibuddha—that is, the Primordial Buddha
of Vajrayana Buddhism. Followers of Vajrayana Buddhism believe that Vajradhara is always shown seated; in this sculpture he sits atop
the religion’s sacred teachings, or dharma, originate with Vajradhara and a Nepalese-style, double-lotus base. Befitting his august status,
that all other Buddhas emanate from him. As evinced by this sculpture, Vajradhara appears in a formal, erect pose, his spine straight, his
the vajra—in this case, a five-pronged vajra—characteristically appears shoulders square, his head held high, rather than in the less-formal,
in the deity’s right hand and the vajra-handled ghanta in his left S-curved pose typical of bodhisattva images in Tibeto-Chinese style.
(in this case, a five-pronged ghanta. The gesture with wrists crossed at In fact, he sits in the vajrasana pose, a cross-legged sitting position, or
the chest and palms facing inward symbolizes preaching and is termed asana, in which the feet are placed on the opposing thighs, soles up, the
the prajnalinganabhinaya-mudra, which is usually called anweiyin heels as close to the abdomen as possible, and the arrangement of the
in Chinese, though that term also designates the vitarka-mudra. knees and legs as symmetrical as possible. (Often termed padmasana,
(A ritual hand gesture, a mudra—symbolizes a particular action, power, or the lotus position in English, the position is known as vajrasana in
or attitude of a deity.) Together, the vajra and ghanta symbolize the Chinese and Tibetan Buddhism.) The upper tier on the double-lotus
Buddhist ideals of all-penetrating emptiness and absolute wisdom— base claims rising lotus petals and is roughly half the height of the
the former known as sunyata in Sanskrit and as kongxing or shunruoduo lower tier, which features descending lotus petals; beaded borders
in Chinese, the latter as prajna in Sanskrit and bore in Chinese. encircle the top and bottom of the base.

明永樂 金剛總持（本初佛）坐像

毛瑞 哈佛大學藝術博物館亞洲部榮譽主任暨佳士得高級顧問

這尊精美的銅鎏金像於明朝（1368–1644）永樂年間（1403–1424）由北京御用監所造。金剛總持，又稱金鋼持，為佛教中
的本初佛，在尼泊爾及西藏普遍供奉，但在漢地未廣泛信仰，鮮少出現於漢傳佛教的藝術作品中，因此本尊金剛總持造
像極為罕見，意義非凡。

胸前交疊、持金剛杵與金剛鈴的雙腕為金剛總持的姿勢。金剛總持是金剛乘中的本初佛，又稱阿提佛陀。金剛乘教徒
將其視為佛法傳承的源頭，諸佛皆為其無量化身。此尊佛像上可見，右手所持之金剛杵與左手所持之金剛鈴，分別為
五股（鈷）杵及五股（鈷）鈴。這種手腕在胸前交疊、掌心向內的姿態稱為安慰印，意指佛菩薩說法。印、手印、印相為
象徵特定神祇動作、力量或理念的手勢。金剛杵、金剛鈴配合使用，代表佛教教義中根植萬有的空性（舜若多）及般若
智慧。

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