Art

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