Buddha Shakyamuni

Object Details

• Label

  Metal images from western Tibet in the eleventh and twelfth-century are often freely inventive, as seen here in the Buddha’s elevated seated posture, atypically square head, and the playful swoop of the garment’s left sleeve.

  The earth-touching gesture, in which the right hand reaches down to call the earth to witness the Buddha’s moment of enlightenment, identifies both the historical Buddha (Shakyamuni) and the cosmic Buddha Akshobhya, this sculpture more likely represents Akshobhya because the downward tilt of the left hand suggests that it was made to hold an upright thunderbolt scepter rather than the begging bowl that is characteristic of Shakyamuni.

  Akshobyha (Sanskrti, Immovable or Unshakable) is unshakably present in the eastern heaven Abhirati to teach all its beings. In Abhirati (Sanskrit, Intense Delight), gods and humans easily visit each other’s realms by traversing ladders that connect heaven and earth.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room (March 12, 2022 - ongoing)

  Encountering the Buddha: Art and Practice Across Asia (October 14, 2017 to February 6, 2022)

  Doorway to an Enlightened World: The Tibetan Shrine from the Alice S. Kandell Collection (March 19 to November 27, 2016)

  The Tibetan Shrine from the Alice S. Kandell Collection (March 13, 2010 to November 27, 2016)

• Origin

  Guge, Western Tibet

• Credit Line

  The Alice S. Kandell Collection

• Type

  Sculpture

• On View

  Sackler Gallery 26a: The Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1100s, 1000s

• Place

  Tibet, Guge

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Art, Inlay (process), Shakyamuni Buddha, Alice S. Kandell Collection, Akshobhya Buddha, Metal-work

• Culture

  Buddhists, Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Sculpture

• On View

  Yes