Page 42 - Bonhams Hong K June 2016

The Kangxi emperor's strong personal attraction to impressive gilt- The remarkable size and weight of the Amitayus, intricately cast
lacquered and semi-precious-stone-inlaid bronze figures such as and richly gilt, finely inlaid with semi-precious stones elevating the
the present lot is demonstrated by their close stylistic resemblance figure to a higher art form, enriched with gold-lacquer, softly worn in
to the four-armed Avalokitesvara Shadakshari, from the Qing Court places touched and worshipped for centuries, all combine to create
Collection, dated by inscription to the bingyin year, corresponding to a magnificent portrayal of the Buddha Amitayus, worthy of Imperial
1686, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace worship. Such a magnificent production would have been costly
Museum: Buddhist Statues of Tibet, Shanghai, 2003, p.237, no.226. and therefore only a limited number of such figures would have been
The inscription, which is engraved in four different languages of made in comparison to the thousands of much smaller gilt-bronze
Mandarin, Manchu, Mongolian and Tibetan Sanskrit, reads: figures of Amitayus ordered by the Qianlong emperor in honour of his
mother, empress Xiaoshengxian's (1693-1777) sixtieth, seventieth and
'大清昭聖慈壽恭簡安懿章慶敦惠溫莊康和仁宣弘靖太皇太后虔，奉三 eightieth birthdays.
室福庇萬靈，自於康熙二十五年歲次丙寅恭奉聖諭不日告成，永念聖
祖母仁慈垂佑眾生更賴菩薩感應萬壽無疆雲爾。' There are very few recorded examples of Kangxi gilt-bronze figures
of Amitayus engraved with a numerical inscription at the underside of
The inscription states that the gilt-bronze figure was commissioned the foot; compare a gilt-lacquered bronze figure of Amitayus, Kangxi,
and presented in dedication to the Kangxi emperor's grandmother, bearing the engraved number 'seventy six', which was sold
empress dowager Xiaozhuangwen (1613-1688). The year 1686 was at Christie's London, 14 May 2013, lot 154.
neither the empress dowager's seventieth jubilee, nor the Kangxi
emperor's thirtieth jubilee; however, the Amitayus's strong association Compare a similar Imperial gilt-bronze figure of Amitayus, Kangxi,
with longevity, known as the Buddha of Infinite Life, could conceivably which was sold at Sotheby's London on 5 November 2014, lot 18,
present the explanation for this highly costly production of the prized and another from the same rooms sold on 10 November 2010, lot
sacred figures. The Buddha Amitayus, associated with the rites that 233. See also another similar example which was sold at Christie's
ensure long life, is especially worshipped by Tibetans, who believe that London on 13 May 2008, lot 147.
life can be extended through long lineages, faith and compassion. It is
also believed that one can achieve self-enlightenment and cater to the
welfare of others with the help of Amitayus.

The dowager empress was largely responsible for the Kangxi
emperor's upbringing and education under the rule of the Four
Regents, following the death of the emperor's mother, empress
Xiaokangzhang (1640-1663). The Kangxi emperor's devotion to the
dowager empress is clearly demonstrated in him personally looking
after her, when she fell ill in the autumn of 1687. It is therefore possible
that this group of exceptional figures of Amitayus was made for prayer
and hope for the prolonging of the dowager empress's life, or in her
honour after her passing.

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