Art

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