Art

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

Head of a Lokeshvara

This over 800-year old figure is from Cambodia. By the third century, Buddhism had already spread from northern India across entire South-east Asia – including Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia. 

Audio Description

https://rietberg.fluxguide.com/fluxguide/Icon Audiodeskription

Is this the face of a human or a divine being?

https://rietberg.fluxguide.com/fluxguide/Head of a Lokeshvara

You’re at the Museum Rietberg, standing before this work of art?

Faces of the Bodhisattva Lokeshvara, Bayon temple complex, Cambodia

https://rietberg.fluxguide.com/fluxguide/Faces of the Bodhisattva Lokeshvara, Bayon temple complex, Cambodia

The Bayon temple complex in Cambodia was built by King Jayavarman VII. Originally it featured more than fifty towers, which were adorned with more than 200 faces of the Bodhisattva Lokeshvara. These faces, too, were regarded as portraits of the ruler.