San Diego Museum of Art - Standing Bodhisattva

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Bookmark: https://collection.sdmart.org/objects-1/info/4682

Standing Bodhisattva

Creation date: 550-577

Creation place: China

Other Information

Type: Stone Sculpture

Medium and Support: Limestone

Credit Line: Bequest of Mrs. Cora Timken Burnett

Accession Number: 1957.435

State/Province: Shanxi Province

Dimensions: 67 in. x 19 in. x 18 in. (170.18 cm x 48.26 cm x 45.72 cm)

Currently on view

Label Copy

Echoes of the Past 2012:

This free-standing Bodhisattva is related to the image style of the Xiangtangshan cave temples and stylistically dates to about the same time, ca. 560s–70s during the Northern Qi Dynasty in northeastern China. It possesses the characteristically columnar form of the Xiangtangshan sculptures, though the jewel forms appear slightly more subdued than usual. The posture is frontal and unbending, indicating, as with the Xiangtangshan sculptures in general, a sense of inner, irrevocable solidity and firmness. The human body is disclosed in its most primordial shape with thin, close-fitting robes smoothing out the surfaces. Jewelry makes its own symmetric patterns of heavy, raised, textured pearl chains, X-crossed in shape as they cover the frontal expanse and contrast with the sharp edges of the bands of the hems and long shoulder scarves that descend as a framing statement to the lotus pedestal. A youthful, serene face appears remote and distant, though still human, above the rather massive form.

Impressive in its monumentality, this bodhisattva exemplifies the sixth-century style of early Buddhist art in China. He stands on a lotus pedestal, which signals his transcendent nature as a being that has surpassed the mundane human state in knowledge and compassion. The mass of his body and the equal distribution of weight on both feet impart an iconic quality to this object of worship.
Last Updated: 3/26/2021

Exhibition

This object was included in the following exhibitions:

Art of East Asia San Diego Museum of Art , 2/3/2013 - 8/1/2013

Bibliography

This object has the following bibliographic references:

Ms. Yu Sung. San Diego Museum of Art San Diego Museum of Art. San Diego, California, 1993
Page Number: 15

Ms. Yu Sung. Selections from the Chinese Collection San Diego Museum of Art. San Diego, California, 1999
Page Number: 109, Figure Number: 109

The Fine Arts Gallery of San Diego Catalogue: San Diego Museum of Art. San Diego, California, 1960
Page Number: 128, 130, Figure Number: 130

Dr. Caron Smith. San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego Museum of Art. San Diego, California, 2003
Page Number: 33, Figure Number: 33

Katherine Tsiang. Echoes of the Past: The Buddhist Cave Temples of Xiangtangshan David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art. University of Chicago, 2010
Page Number: 228, Figure Number: 31

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