Art

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

Head of the Buddha

This large, impressive head comes from the Buddhist cave temples at the “Mountain of Echoing Halls” in northern China. Around the year 550, seeking to perform meritorious deeds, Qi-dynasty rulers had a number of caves hewn out of limestone cliffs and then lavishly decorated with sculptures. The Southern Cave contained statues of three large Buddhas and their attendants. In their original location, the seated figures gazed down on devotees from a height of well over 3 metres.