Posted By: Bill H
Posted Date: Dec 08, 2019 (12:26 AM)
This looks to me more like a Burmese-style made-in-Thailand figure of a female celestial or Ramayana (Ramakien) dancer. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas reach their positions by ridding themselves of all vestiges of sinfulness, including carnality. Therefore, whether they might appear as male or female, it is just form with no actual substance of gender, at least within mainstream Buddhist beliefs as far as I know. However, there are lots of other celestials who are known to dance and sing. Here also is a photo of a Burmese standing and Shan seated Buddha with celestial figures on either side, including benevolent half-human and half-bird figures of the Kinnara (male form at right) and Kinnari (female form at left).
Best regards,
Bill H
