Page 172 - Christies Asia Week 2015 Chinese Works of Art

2133 THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
2133
170 A GILT-LACQUERED BRONZE FIGURE OF
BUDDHA
MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)

The Buddha is seated in dhyanasana with
his hands held in his lap. He is clad in
fowing robes, the hems incised with foral
scrollwork, and the face is benevolent in
expression. The hair is in tight curls over the
ushnisha, which is fronted by a jewel-like
knob.
13Ω in. (34.3 cm.) high

$12,000-18,000

明 銅漆金佛坐像

2134
A RARE DATED BRONZE FIGURE OF
MANJUSHRI SEATED ON A LION
MING DYNASTY, DATED BY THE INSCRIPTION
TO THE FIRST YEAR OF THE CHENGHUA PERIOD,
CORRESPONDING TO 1465

The bodhisattva is shown seated in rajalilasana,
his pendent foot resting on a lotus blossom,
atop the back of a lion with ferocious
expression and mouth agape. He is dressed
in fowing robes incised with a foral
pattern and adorned with various sashes and
jewelry. The tresses of hair are arranged in
an elaborate chignon which supports a half-
vajra.
12 in. (30.5 cm.) high

$30,000-50,000

The inscription on the back of the lion indicates
that the present fgure was made by monk
Yongmin in the frst year of the Chenghua
period (1465). Manjushri (Wenshu), the
bodhisattva of wisdom, is usually shown seated
on a lion and is often shown in a triad with
the Buddha Shakyamuni and the bodhisattva
Samantabhadra (Puxian) who is shown seated
on an elephant. The Avatamsaka sutra, which
was introduced into China in the 5th century
AD, described the bodhimanda of Manjushri as
“cold, clear, mountain” in the Northeast. This
led Chinese scholars to associate Manjushri with
Wutaishan in Northeast China, and explains the
peak’s alternate name, Qingliang Shan (Clear
Cold Mountain).

明成化元年(1465) 銅文殊騎獅像