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Buddha Maravijaya
Shokyusai Tomoyuki
Late 15th-early 16th centuries
Bronze, black and red lacquer, gilt, mother-of-pearl
H 44 cm
This sculpture represents a widespread type of the
iconography ‘Buddha calling the Earth to Witness', which
since the 15th century has been known as Buddha
Maravijaya, Buddha overcoming Mara, the prince of Dark:
such pose and position of the hands represent one of the
episodes from the life of Buddha, when, deep in meditation
and challenged by the wicked Mara, he touched the earth
with the fingers of his right hand, calling upon Mother Earth
to witness his evolutionary right to enlightenment; Mara
was overcome.
The Buddha is sitting on a throne framed with lotus petals
covered with black and red lacquer, the legs are in the
Vajrasana pose. Smooth modelling and spiritual nature make
this work one of the best in the Hermitage collection.
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