Page 23 - Contenplating the Divie Buddhist Art Christies Hong Kong

Richly attired, bodhisattvas, who may be presented either 雙掌相抵，狀若虔心祈禱。（手印或印相是用手結成特定的
standing or seated, are represented with long hair often 佛教手勢，喻指某位神祇的特定行為、法力或態度。）有時
arranged in a tall coiffure, or bun, on top of the head and
with long strands of hair cascading over the shoulders. A 候，菩薩也會像本尊般一手施無畏印，抬掌向外，象徵「無
crown sometimes surrounds the high coiffure as revealed 所畏怖」，另一手則垂掌向外，結與願印或施願印。
by this sculpture. Bodhisattvas wear ornamental scarves,
dhotis of rich silk brocade, and a wealth of jewellery that 佛家典籍中的菩薩之多不計其數，部份有具體名稱，並被賦
includes necklaces, armlets, bracelets, and anklets. Like 予特定的屬性。當中最家喻戶曉且信眾最多者，當屬以慈悲
Buddhas, bodhisattvas have distended earlobes, but, unlike 心著稱的觀音菩薩，又名觀世音菩薩。「觀音」出自梵文
the Buddhas, they wear earrings. Though bodhisattvas are Avalokiteshvara，可譯作「觀察世間音」，指觀音循聲救苦、
generally shown barefoot, as in this sculpture, both early 有求必應。香火僅次於觀音者，應是彌勒菩薩，又稱彌勒或
Indian and early Chinese images of bodhisattvas may be
shown wearing sandals, often of plaited straw. 3 未來佛。他若以菩薩形象出現，代表仍然身處眾多菩薩居住
的兜率天；若以佛陀之身示人，則代表他已從兜率下生為佛，
Though not positioned in prescribed mudras, bodhisattvas’ 正在人間淨土翅頭末城（又名雞頭摩城）說法。
hands often appear in the anjalimudra— 合掌印 or 合十印 —
a gesture indicating veneration in which the hands are 菩薩可以是單體造像，但亦經常配對出現，以陪襯特定的佛
clasped before the chest, palms touching, as if in prayer. (A
ritual hand gesture, a mudra— 手印 or 印相 —symbolizes 陀，名曰「一鋪三尊」。一般來說，觀音和大勢至菩薩是阿
a particular action, power, or attitude of a deity). In other 彌陀佛的左右脅侍，在釋迦牟尼兩側的是文殊和普賢菩薩，
instances, as in this sculpture, a bodhisattva may hold one 而伴隨藥師佛則是日光和月光菩薩。
hand in the abhayamudra 施無畏印 , a gesture in which the
hand is raised, palm outward, in the attitude of “do not fear”, 註明尊號的菩薩，通常會有特定的造像儀軌。作為阿彌陀佛
and the other hand lowered, palm outward, in the varada- 的應化身，觀音的鑑別特徵是其寶冠或高髻前的小化佛。高
mudra 與願印 , or gift-giving gesture. 髻或寶冠前飾偷婆或寶塔者，則是彌勒菩薩；寶塔象徵釋尊

Buddhist scriptures speak of countless bodhisattvas, a few 的舍利所在，既可突顯彌勒與釋尊關係密切，亦確立了他作
of whom are named and coupled with specific virtues. Best 為未來佛下生繼承釋迦牟尼佛的身份。文殊菩薩代表智慧善
known and most frequently worshiped is Avalokitesvara— 巧，其經卷或執於手中，但通常置於左肩蓮花之上；有時候，
Guanyin 觀音菩薩 or Guanshiyin 觀世音菩薩 —who is revered
as the Bodhisattva of Compassion. A translation of the 文殊還會手揮慧劍，以示斬除無明。至於日光和月光菩薩，
Sanskrit name Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva’s name 兩者各以其寶冠上的日輪、月輝為身份標識。
means “[The One Who] Perceives the Sounds of the World”,
a reference to Guanyin’s ability to hear both the cries of the 雖然菩薩造型通常為一面、二臂、雙腿，但據經文描述，菩
afflicted and the prayers of supplicants. Likely the second 薩偶以多面多臂之姿出現，其諸多妙容之一為十一面觀音，
most worshiped bodhisattva is Maitreya 彌勒菩薩 , or Mile 此外尚有變化身具五百面、千手和千眼，所言縱非實數，亦

19