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Buddha Sakyamuni Thailand, Kingdom of Sukhothai 15th century Stone height 43 cm |
Buddhism is a rational philosophy, developed some 2,500 years ago by the Indian sage Gautama Sakyamuni, the historical Buddha, as a way of life based on the acceptance of worldly reality. Existence for the Buddhist is suffering, caused by desire. The goal of Buddhist teaching is to attain a release from desire, which in turn leads to the state of nirvana, the Buddhist heaven. The present sculpture represents one of the most important episodes in the Buddha’s life, the moment he attained the state of enlightenment. With his right hand he touches Mother Earth, indicating his overcoming of the demon Mara, his last obstacle on the way to enlightenment. Seated in virasana, Buddha makes the bhumisparsamudra with his right hand; his left hand, resting in his lap, makes the dhyanamudra, the gesture of contemplation. Protruding from the crown of his curl-covered head is his ushnisha, denoting wisdom. Buddha is attired in a monk’s robe with his right shoulder and arm uncovered. His elongated earlobes reflect his royal origins. Having broken its bondage to Cambodia in the second quarter of the thirteenth century, the Kingdom of Sukhothai enjoyed a brief but artistically brilliant period of independence until it became a vassal of Ayudhia in 1438. The reign of Ramkamhaeng (1279-1299) saw the kingdom at the height of its power and covering much of present-day Thailand. When the kingdom became a sovereign state an entirely new stye evolved that retained little of the Khmer cultural tradition that had preceded it. The Buddha images produced at this time achieved an unprecedented artistic level. The dating of the present image can be determined by classic elements. The shape of the flame, the large curls and pronounced ears, the line of the eyebrows that continues in the nose, the shawl over the left shoulder, the elementary shape of the throne, and the hands with fingers of different lengths are all typical characteristics of the style [1]. This rare and masterfully carved Sukhothai stone Buddha has beautiful volumes, pure lines and harmonious proportions. The fine polished surface complements the sculpture and reveals the artistic and technical skills of the Sukhothai craftsmen. Every part of Buddha’s body seems to radiate his inner life; it reveals his royal origin and high level of evolutionary perfection. [1] J. Boisselier, La Sculpture en Thailande, Bibliothèque des Arts, Paris, 1974, p.92. Buddha Sakyamuni, Sukhothai, XIVth century, Musée National, Ayuthya, Thailand. |