Art

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

Buddha Shakyamuni and the Earth-Touching Gesture

This figure depicts Buddha Shakyamuni sitting in the lotus position upon a double lotus plinth. With his right hand he touches the ground to signify the moment of his awakening. 
The Buddha wears a tight-fitting robe that leaves his right shoulder uncovered. His serene expression indicates the intensity of his contemplative state. His tightly curled hair still reveals the blue colouring required by iconographic convention.