Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Shakyamuni Buddha

ཤཱཀྱ་ཐུབ་པ། 释迦牟尼佛
(item no. 69403)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1800 - 1899
Lineages Buddhist
Size 60.33x43.18cm (23.75x17in)
Material Ground Mineral Pigment on Cotton
Collection Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
Catalogue # acc. #B62D38, The Avery Brundage Collection
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Person

Interpretation / Description

Shakyamuni Buddha (Tibetan: sha kya tu pa, sang gye. English: the Enlightened One, Sage of the Shakya Clan), founder of Buddhism, and the Sixteen Great Arhats in a five painting set.

Sanskrit: Buddha Shakyamuni Tibetan: Sang gye sha kya tu pa

At the top left is the Arhat Angaja holding a fly-whisk in the bend of the right arm and the handle of an incense burner in the left hand. On the right side is the Arhat Bakula holding a jewel spitting mongoose in the lap. At the top center is a very small figure of the Buddha of long-life, Amitayus.

At the center of the composition is Shakyamuni Buddha, gold in colour, with the right arm extended across the knee and the left in the lap holding a black begging bowl. On the right and left side of Shakyamuni are the two principal students, Shariputra, standing, holding a monk's staff and a begging bowl and Maudgalyayana also holding a staff and a bowl.

Royal donor figures are seated below the Buddha accompanied by a host of retinue attendants.

"Born in the Shakya race through skillful means and compassion; destroying the army of Mara who was unable to be destroyed by others; with a body radiant like a mountain of gold. Homage to you, King of Shakya." (Sakya liturgical verse).

Jeff Watt 9-99 [updated 6-2009]

Related Items
Thematic Sets
Shakyamuni Buddha: Main Page
Collection of Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
Painting Set: Arhat Set: Asian Art Museum (SF)
Arhat/Sthavira: Block Print Sets (Nartang)
Arhat/Sthavira: Nartang Block Print (Shakyamuni Buddha)