About this artwork
Seated depictions of the Buddha originated in Indian art, perhaps in portraits of Indian royalty. The Chinese reserved this imagery for Maitreya (Chinese: Mi-le), the Buddha of the Future, who waits in a cosmic heaven before descending to earth. This figure of Maitreya is about to step off his throne into this world, fulfilling the hopes and prayers of the faithful. His right hand is raised in a mudra (gesture) meaning “fear not.” Flames, emphasizing radiance and holy presence, border his outer halo, and his head is framed by an open lotus, whose blossoms also rise beneath his feet. Because it emerges pure white from muddy water, the lotus is a pervasive symbol of the Buddhist nature within all living things.
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Status
- On View, Gallery 101A
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Department
- Arts of Asia
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Title
- Maitreya Buddha
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Place
- China (Artist's nationality:)
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Date
- 705 CE
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Medium
- Limestone
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Inscriptions
- In the first year of the Shenlong era of the Great Tang, on the eighteenth day of the sixth month, which began on the day of jiyou, of the year of yisi, Buddha's disciple, Yan Zongfeng, in honor of his recently deceased parents, ancestors from the past seven generations, and his family members and relatives who are still living, respectfully made this image of Maitreya along with two bodhisattvas. With one heart, the whole family, both adults and children, faithfully make offerings.
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Dimensions
- 82.3 × 33 × 30.2 cm (32 7/16 × 12 15/16 × 11 15/16 in.)
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Credit Line
- Gift of Alice Getty
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Reference Number
- 1924.115
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/11690/manifest.json
Extended information about this artwork
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