Art

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