Page 170 - Christies Asia Week 2015 Chinese Works of Art

VARIOUS PROPERTIES
2131
A RARE BRONZE FIGURE OF AKSHOBHYA
BUDDHA
MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)

The Buddha is seated in dhyanasana on a
double-lotus base with his hands held in
bhumisparshamudra. He is clad in ornate,
patchwork robes, each patch decorated with
a raised lotus blossom, and adorned with
elaborate jewelry and a foliate tiara. The face
is serene, with gentle smile and downcast
eyes, and the hair is in tight curls over the
ushnisha and topped with a knob.
9√ in. (25.1 cm.) high

$8,000-12,000

PROVENANCE:

Private collection, Burlington, North
Carolina, since the 1950s.

Bhumisparshamudra (the ‘earth witness’ gesture)
is reserved for images of Buddha Shakyamuni and
the Dhyani Buddha, Akshobhya. As Shakyamuni is
traditionally depicted as an unadorned ascetic, the
presence of the crown on this fgure identifes him
as Akshobhya. The latter is a concept of Tibetan-
style Vajrayana Buddhism, which was introduced
to China during the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368).
A very similar bronze fgure of Akshobya Buddha
is in the collection of the Wanshou Temple in
Beijing. The temple was built in 1577 during the
Wanli period and later became and important
place for birthday celebrations for the imperial
families of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The
Wanshou Temple now houses the Beijing Art
Museum, which was founded in 1985.

明 銅阿閦佛坐像

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