Standing Buddha

Historical period(s)
Dvaravati period, 600-800
Medium
Stone
Dimensions
H x W x D: 113 x 37.5 x 20 cm (44 1/2 x 14 3/4 x 7 7/8 in)
Geography
Thailand
Credit Line
Gift of Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Accession Number
S1987.908
On View Location
Smithsonian Castle, Commons Room
Classification(s)
Sculpture, Stone
Type

Buddhist sculpture

Keywords
abhaya mudra, Buddha, Buddhism, Dvaravati period (ca. 500 - 900), Thailand, WWII-era provenance
Provenance
Provenance information is currently unavailable
Label

Placid and serene, the Buddha stands with his right hand in the gesture of teaching, with his forefinger and thumb together (vitarka mudra). His other hand likely would have formed the same gesture. As a renunciant, he does not wear regal attire or jewelry. His monk's robe clings close to his body and folds around the ankles. His face is serene, with pronounced features including a streamlined brow over almond-shaped eyes and full lips, and his snail shell curls are surmounted by a conical ushnisha. His long lobes emphasize his humble appearance.

Buddhism spread from India into Southeast Asia primarily during the course of the sixth through ninth centuries. Art was a major agent in this expanding network. Inspired by sculptural imagery from Sarnath, in northern India, artists in Thailand and Cambodia developed their own forms for the Buddha. Some of the stylistic features, such as positioning both hands in vitarka mudra, departed from Indian models.

Collection Area(s)
South Asian and Himalayan Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
F|S Southeast Asia
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