Art

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