Bodhisattva+of+Mercy+(Nepal)+-+11th+Century+Bronze+Sculpture

**Bodhisattva of Mercy (Nepal) -- 11th Century Bronze Sculpture**



Image Source by: [|Cleveland Museum of Art]

Title: Avalokitesvara Padmapani: Bodhisattva of Mercy Bearing a Lotus Artist: Unknown Date: 1000's Period: Newari Period Country of Origin: Nepal Cultural/Ethnic Affiliation: India/Southeast Asia Medium: Bronze Dimensions: 62.00 cm Museum/Collection: Cleveland Museum of Art Accession Number: 1976.3 Current Location/Manner of Display: Not on View Provenance: Unknown

An 11th Century bronze sculpture of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara is seen depicted here.The polished look of its exterior shows the dedication of the craftsmen of this piece. Although it's missing a key feature, the lotus, which fell off due to aging, the statue can still be confirmed as Avalokitesvara--it is above the figure's left shoulder. This image reflects the Nepalese style of Buddhist.
 * //Introduction//**

The skin of the Bodhisattva is finely polished and smooth, with a rustic tint that makes it look as if the bronze is actually wooden. The adornments worn by Avalokitesvara are golden colored which emphasizes the importance of each piece attached to the body. Clothed only in the jewelry of an Indian monarch, with the absence of any traditional garb or robe, each piece looks to be tattooed to the Bodhisattva's skin. The weight of the figure is situated heavily on it's right hip as the upper portions of the body are leaned towards the left side of the body. The piece is crafted through the process of casting and molding. Molded in beeswax, the outer core is then covered by clay where it sits in the sun until the wax melts completely out of the mold. After that the bronze is poured into the clay shell until it hardens. It is finished by the statue being chiseled out of the clay and finely polished to perfection**//.//** The piece is depicting Avalokitesvara holding a lotus but due to the flower's paper-like thickness, it has been lost from the statue's hands.
 * //Descriptive Analysis//**

The statue is identifiable with the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara because of it's depictions and characteristics that describe him/her. First, starting with the image of the Buddha situated on the crown worn by the Bodhisattva. Next we can tell its the Bodhisattva because it wears adornments and is not seen wearing monk-like clothes. The lotus that is missing from the statue also tells us that this statue is of Avalokitesvara. This piece was made during a period of time where the land was taken under rule from two separate states. It was initially ruled by the late Gupta Indian cultures and then was taken under control by the Chalukayan empire of southern India. The area of Nepal during the 11th century became a hot spot of cultural fusion as southern Indian cultures mixed with eastern Chinese and Tibetan cultures. This statue shows this fusion by the Chinese facial features and the Indian traditional adornments worn--cite the source of this information.
 * //Formal and Contextual Analysis//**

I feel as if this sculpture depicts Avalokitesvara as what the title of the piece states; Bodhisattva of mercy. The facial expression points downward as if he is looking down on someone and the right hip stance makes me feel as if compassion isn't really there. I think that this piece is an outlier of Avalokitesvara's depictions because the mudra given off seems opposing to the central core of this Bodhisattva's teachings; Compassion and Knowledge. I feel as if Avalokitesvara is being naive and vain by standing so non-traditionally and laid-back-like**//.//** What do you think this statue tells about Avalokitesvara? Is this image a justification of the morals he teaches or is it the opposite of what Avalokitesvara stands for? Feel free to post comments in the Comment tab.
 * //Personal Interpretation//**

Frederic, Louis. //Buddhism//. Flammarion,1995.
 * //References//**

Tay, C.N. //History of Religions//. The cult of Half Asia. 1976.

Pictures provided by: Cleveland Museum of Art. Copyright 2011 Cleveland Museum of Art.<[]>

Snellgrove, David. "Himalayan Cultures of Nepal and Tibet".Encyclopaedia Brittanica Inc. Copyright 1995. <[]>

Wanczura, Dieter. "Tibet Statues".<[]> 30 October, 2010.

Alloexpat.com. "History of Nepal". Alloexpat.com Copyright 2011. <[]>

Additional information available at:
 * //Supporting Images and Hyperlinks//**

"Avalokitesvara" <[]>

"The Bodhisattva of Great Compassion" <[]>

"Avalokitesvara" <[]>

"South Asia" "Buddhism" "Avalokitsevara" "Bronze"
 * //Tags//**