Despite the severe damage inflicted to this representation of a bodhisattva during China’s Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), including several prominent bullet holes, the elegance and beauty of the image are still apparent. His translucent garment models his legs and the sacred thread draped over his left shoulder follows the contours of his chest. He once wore a three-leaved crown, now damaged. Insets for now-missing precious stones such as rubies, emeralds, and rock crystal are visible in the crown, earrings, necklace, and armlets.The large-scale sculpture, created with a single hollow casting, was likely made by Newar craftsmen as part of a large set of bodhisattvas for one of the great monasteries of central Tibet and is comparable to similar images preserved in Shalu and Sera Monasteries. Newar craftsmen, from the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, were highly valued throughout the Himalayas for their artistic skills,especially in metal work and painting, and were often recruited in Tibet for major commissions such as this one by the wealthy monasteries that could afford them.

Artwork Details

Title
Bodhisattva
Dimensions
38 × 16 × 6 7/8 in.
Medium
Gilt copper alloy
Origin
Tibet
Classification(s)
sculpture
Date
12th century
Credit Line
Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art
Object number
C2003.24.1
HAR Number
65315
Published references
* Van Alphen, J. Collection Highlights: Rubin Museum of Art. New York: Rubin Museum of Art, 2014. Pp. 130-131* Vajracharya, Gautamavajra. Nepalese Seasons: Rain and Ritual. New York: Rubin Museum of Art, 2016. Cat 16: pp. 69-71.

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Devotion

Concepts

A virtuous feeling and deep respect toward an authentic teaching, teacher, or path. Buddhists believe that expansive study, analysis, and meditation are essential steps for cultivating a healthy and enduring devotion.

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Compassion

Concepts

The cultivation of a strong aspiration to help sentient beings overcome suffering. In Buddhist Mahayana teaching, compassion is the seed for attaining full enlightenment.  

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Bodhisattvas

Figure Type

Beings who aspire to become fully awakened like the Buddha and are dedicated to helping others on the path to enlightenment.

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Tibetan Regions

Region

Today, Tibetans primarily inhabit the Tibetan Plateau, situated between the Himalayan mountain range and the Indian subcontinent to the west, Chinese cultural regions to the east, and Mongolian cultural regions to the northeast. During the 7th to 9th century, Tibetan rulers expanded their empire across Central Asia, and established Buddhism as the state religion.

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