Page 18 - Christie's, materpieces of Buddhist Art December 2, 2015 HK
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Shakyamuni, while Bodhisattvas Avalokiteshvara and and all bodhisattvas—will become Buddhas. They are generally
Mahasthamaprapta generally appear on either side of the associated with Tantric sects of Buddhism and occur most
Buddha Amitabha. In like manner Bodhisattvas Suryaprabha frequently in Tibetan and Japanese art.
and Chandraprabha stand to the left and right of the Medicine
Buddha. As the bodhisattva of transcendental wisdom, Generally associated with the Tantric sects of Buddhism,
Manjushri holds a book and sometimes a sword, as well. A vidyarajas are presented in the guise of an Indian prince, but
spiritual emanation of Amitabha, Avalokiteshvara is identified typically are shown as dark, though occasionally as red. As
by the small image of Amitabha that appears at the front of expressions of the Buddha’s anger, they display a wrathful, even
the bodhisattva’s crown or coiffure. As the “Sunlight” and ferocious, demeanor. They may be depicted with a single head,
“Moonlight” bodhisattvas, Suryaprabha and Chandraprabha two arms, and two legs, but they in fact often are shown with
sport a sun disc and a crescent moon, respectively, in their multiple heads and limbs. They hold different iconographic
coiffures as iconographic emblems. In a variation on that symbols, depending upon the particular vidyaraja represented;
iconographic interpretation, Bodhisattva Suryaprabha, Achala, best known of the vidyarajas, holds a sword and a coiled
the “Sunlight Bodhisattva”, appears red in lot 2913, while rope, for example, the sword to cut away the accumulated bad
Chandraprabha, the “Moonlight Bodhisattva”, appears white. karma from misdeeds and the coiled rope as a lifeline to pull
the individual back to the proper path to enlightenment.
Two bodhisattvas that often appear individually are Maitreya
and Ekadasamukha-Avalokiteshvara, or the Eleven-Headed The “Others” category of deities includes a variety of important
Avalokiteshvara (lot 2906). As the Future Buddha, Maitreya yet lesser, miscellaneous deities that vary from culture to
will be the next Buddha to appear in this world; he sometimes culture. Among those deities are apsaras, or celestial figures
is presented as a bodhisattva, sometimes as a Buddha. A small akin to angels that pay homage to the Buddha and often
stupa or pagoda in the headdress identifies an image as Maitreya. make offerings or play musical instruments. The category also
includes Yama, King of the Underworld (lot 2904 and lot 2910,
A deity’s multiple heads and limbs simply indicate that the part); and the Ten Kings of Hell. In addition, guardian figures
deity has the ability to assist more beings than can a deity with populate that category, both the dvarapala figures that stand
but one head, two arms and two legs. In the case of the Eleven- at the entrance to a temple and ward away evil spirits while
Headed Avalokiteshvara, after struggling to comprehend the safeguarding the temple’s sacred precincts and the lokapala,
needs of so many in distress, the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara’s or Four Heavenly Kings, that typically stand near the corners of
head split into eleven pieces. The Buddha Amitabha, upon a temple altar (lot 2910, part). Sets of twelve guardian kings
seeing his spiritual emanation’s plight, granted him eleven occasionally surround around temple altars, occasionally in
heads to help him hear the cries of those who are suffering. association with the Medicine Buddha but more typically in
Upon hearing and comprehending those cries, Avalokiteshvara the temples of Tantric Buddhist sects. The well-muscled but
attempted to reach out to all those needing help, but found scantily clad dvarapala generally wear only a loin cloth, while
that his two arms shattered into pieces. Once more, Amitabha the Four Heavenly Kings and the twelve guardian kings usually
came to his aid and gave him a thousand arms to reach out to wear military armor.
those in need.
Most typical among the non-deity images that appear in the
“Vidyaraja” literally means “King of Light”. Like “bodhisattva”, arts of Buddhism are the Buddha’s disciples and the arhats,
the term refers to beings who have attained enlightenment— or luohan. As “perfected beings” or “worthies” who have
hence, the association with light—but who have postponed gained enlightenment but have not yet left this world to enter
entry into nirvana in order to assist other sentient beings in nirvana, they have special powers and stand as models to be
gaining enlightenment. Unlike the bodhisattvas, the vidyaraja followed by other mortals. All sects of Buddhism revere their
are also a literal manifestation of the Buddha’s anger, not patriarchs, abbots, and famous teachers, so those frequently
at sentient beings per se but at their wrongdoings. Once all are represented as well, particularly among the Tantric sects
sentient beings have attained enlightenment, all vidyarajas— (lots 2907, 2914).
16 Masterpieces of Buddhist Art 大俱足 — 經典亞洲佛教藝術
