Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Kshitigarbha - (Bodhisattva)

ས་ཡི་སྙིང་པོ། 地藏菩萨
(item no. 700040)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1600 - 1699
Lineages Buddhist
Size 32.39cm (12.75in) high
Material Bronze
Collection Rubin Museum of Art
Catalogue # acc.# F1997.12.4
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Appearance: Peaceful

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

Kshitigarbha, Bodhisattva (Tibetan: sai nying po. English: the Essence of the Earth): one of the eight principal Mahayana students, or 'heart sons,' of the Buddha Shakyamuni.

The 'Eight Heart Sons,' including such notables as Manjushri and Avalokiteshvara, figure prominantly in the various Mahayana Sutras of Northern Buddhism. Kshitigarbha is particularly associated with bringing help and comfort to those in the underworld realm of hell beings.

The sculpture is identified as Kshitigarbha by a name inscription written on the back of the base. It is most likely that this sculpture belongs to a set depicting the Eight Bodhisattvas along with a center piece portraying either Shakyamuni or Amitabha Buddha.

Jeff Watt 7-2003

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Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Sculpture (Gallery 1)
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