Art

  • Sakya Pandita (1182–1252)
  • Amida Nyorai, Buddha of the Western Paradise
  • Shakyamuni Enters Nirvana
  • Leaving for Homelessness
  • Buddha Shakyamuni and the Earth-Touching Gesture
  • Shaka Nyorai, the Historical Buddha
  • Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom
  • Large Votive Stupa
  • Hotei
  • Gazelle
  • Bodhidharma Crosses the Yangtze River on a Reed
  • Stupa
  • Standing Bodhisattva
  • Kannon, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Praying Priest
  • Printing Block for a Prayer from the Text “Embodiment of the Three Jewels” by Jatson Nyingpo (1585–1656)
  • Shyamatara, Green Tara
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Meditating Under the Bodhi Tree
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Attains Awakening Under the Bodhi Tree
  • Sitatara, White Tara
  • Standing Buddha Amida
  • Yakshi, Nymph with Lotus Flowers, fragment of a baluster
  • The Buddha’s Parinirvana
  • Stela Showing Scenes from the Life of the Buddha
  • Six Persimmons
  • Vijaya Stupa
  • Machig Labdrön
  • Monumental Head of a Bodhisattva
  • The Prophecy of the Buddha Dipankara
  • The Buddha Begins Teaching
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Monastic Rules for Monks
  • Buddhist Pocket-sized Prayer Altar
  • Ceremonial Dagger Featuring the God of Death
  • The Bodhisattva of Compassion Sitting in Meditation
  • Standing Buddha Shakyamuni
  • The Descent of Buddha Amida
  • Portrait of the Abbot Ennin
  • Excerpt from the Lotus Sutra
  • Budai
  • Buddhist Votive Tablet
  • Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Mahasiddha Virupa
  • Great Stupa at Sanchi
  • The Descent of Buddha Amida
  • Taima Mandala, the Buddha Amida’s Paradise
  • Plaque Showing the Buddha Teaching
  • Rectangular Coin
  • Standing Buddha Shakyamuni
  • The Four Excursions
  • Head of a Lokeshvara
  • Prince Siddhartha’s Wedding
  • Standing Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Half-length Portrait of the Zen Patriarch Bodhidharma
  • Head of a Monk
  • Vase with Lotus Vines and the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism
  • The Arhats Vanavasin, Angaja, Kalika, and Ajita From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Mara’s Daughters Tempt the Buddha
  • Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion in the Posture of Royal Ease
  • Hotei, One of the Gods of Good Fortune, with Child
  • Travel Shrine
  • Bust of a Luohan
  • Standing Buddha
  • The Bodhisattva of Compassion as the Bringer of Sons
  • The Death of the Buddha
  • Buddha Shakyamuni with Scenes from his Life
  • Buddha Shakyamuni at the Moment of his Awakening
  • Padmasambhava with his 25 Tibetan Pupils From a series of 7 thangkas
  • Ushnishavijaya
  • Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Thangka of the Twenty-One Taras
  • Seated Bodhisattva
  • Jambhala, the God of Wealth
  • Gendün Gyatso, the 2nd Dalai Lama (1476–1542)
  • Dharmapala Yama
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Invokes the Earth Goddess as his Witness
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Tames the Wild Elephant Nalagiri
  • Head of a Buddha
  • The Three Buddhas Dipankara, Shakyamuni, and Maitreya
  • Padmasambhava
  • Zen Priest in a Golden Wrap
  • Jizo Bosatsu, Bodhisattva in the Guise of a Monk
  • Dharani Sutra of the Heart of the Perfection of Insight
  • Bodhidharma
  • Votive Stela Depicting Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Baisajyaguru, the Medicine Buddha
  • Head of a Bodhisattva
  • The Four Pleasures of Nan Shenglu (detail)
  • Relief of the Five Transcendent Buddhas
  • The Prophecy of the Wise Asita
  • The Arhats Panthaka, Gopaka, Nagasena, and Abheda From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Buddhist Monk
  • Buddhist Votive Tablet
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Sheltered by the Serpent-King
  • Head of the Buddha
  • Buddha Vairocana
  • Empress Jito, from the series “Parody of the Ogura Version of ‘One Hundred Poets, One Hundred Poems’ ”
  • Buddha Maitreya
  • Portrait of the Zen Priest Gemmon Doyu
  • Padmasambhava with his 25 Tibetan Pupils From a series of 7 thangkas
  • The Arhats Kanakavasta, Vajriputra, Kanaka Bharadvaja, and Bhadra From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • The Transcendent Buddha Akshobhya
  • Buddha Shakyamuni 
  • Buddha Dipankara, the Buddha of the Past
  • State Oracle Garment
  • Green Tara (Shyama Tara)
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Shyamatara, Green Tara
  • Vajradhara, the Primordial Buddha
  • The Ascetic Milarepa
  • Head of the Buddha
  • Guhyamanjuvajra
  • Buddha Shakyamuni From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Pancha Raksha Manuscript
  • Dakini Vasya-Vajravarahi
  • Dharmatala and two lokapalas From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • The Arhats Bakula, Rahula, Cudapanthaka, and Pindola From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, as the Patron of fishermen
  • Female Monkey with Her Young
  • The 4th Dalai Lama Yonten Gyatso (1589–1617)
  • Standing Monk with Hands Folded
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Seated Bodhisattva
  • Buddhist Monastic Rules from the Pali Canon
  • Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • The Layman Huashang and Two Lokapalas From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Stupa
  • Standing Tara
  • Buddhist Votive Stela of the Yan Family
  • The Buddha Invokes the Earth Goddess as his Witness
  • Votive Stela with Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Buddha Shakyamuni as a Newborn Infant
Buddha Shakyamuni as a Newborn Infant

Buddha Shakyamuni as a Newborn Infant

Legend has it that the Buddha took his first steps immediately upon being born. With his right hand, he pointed to heaven; with his left hand he pointed to the ground and stated that in this lifetime he would attain Buddhahood and free all beings from their suffering.

That is the very moment captured in this small metal figure. The Buddha is portrayed as a naked, chubby infant, and does not yet bear the typical markings of a buddha.