Buddha calling the Earth to witness (bhumisparsha mudra), late 12th century ::

Details

Other Titles: Figure of Buddha
Buddha on the lion throne
Place where the work was made: Pagan → Myanmar
Date: late 12th century
Media category: Sculpture
Materials used: copper alloy
Dimensions: 12.0 cm
Signature & date: Not signed. Not dated.
Credit: Purchased 1997
Location: South Building, lower level 1, Asian Lantern galleries
Accession number: 83.1997
Copyright: Reproduction requests
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About

Early Buddhist images from Burma have distinctive stylistic qualities that distinguish them from their South-east Asian counterparts. In Burmese Buddhism, which followed the Theravada path, the dominant figure is Akshobhya, represented here. In this characteristic pose the Buddha is seated with feet upturned, bearing wheel marks on his soles. A button-like protuberance on his forehead resembles the 'urna'. The left hand rests face up on the lap in the meditation 'mudra'; the right hangs with the tips of the outstretched fingers touching the ground in the 'bhumispara mudra'. With this gesture the Buddha invokes the earth to witness his resistance of the temptations of the spirit of evil, Mara.

Exhibition history

Shown in 5 exhibitions

Burmese art and its influences, Beurdeley, Matthews and Co. Ltd., London, 08 Apr 1981–25 Apr 1981
Buddha: Radiant awakening, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 10 Nov 2001–24 Feb 2002
Conversations through the Asian collections, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 25 Oct 2014–13 Mar 2016
Walking with gods, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 01 Jun 2019–05 Jan 2020
Elemental, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 30 Jul 2022–2024

Bibliography

Referenced in 10 publications

Bruce James, Art Gallery of New South Wales handbook, 'Asian Collection: South-East Asia', pg. 298-301, Sydney, 1999, 299 (colour illus.).
Isabell Johne, Vasudhārā: A study of the origin, development, and diffusion of artistic representations of the Buddhist goddess of prosperity in their cultural contexts, Aachen, 2014, 150 (colour illus.). vol.2
Simon Matthews, Burmese Art and its Influences, London, 1981, 17 (illus.), 18. plate no. 15
Jackie Menzies, TAASA Review, 'Art Gallery of New South Wales', Sydney, Mar 1998, 10 (colour illus.).
Jackie Menzies, Look, 'Asian Favourites', pg. 24-27, Sydney, Sep 2003, 24 (colour illus.).
Jackie Menzies (Editor), The Asian Collections Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 2003, 12 (colour illus.).
Jackie Menzies (Editor), Buddha: Radiant awakening, Sydney, 2001, 26 (colur illus.), 183. cat.no. 7
Jackie Menzies, Arts of Asia, 'New Dimensions', pg. 54-63, Hong Kong, Nov 2003-Dec 2003, 60 (colour illus.). no.14
Donald M. Stadtner, The art of Burma, new studies, "Pagan bronzes: fresh observations", Mumbai, 1999, 59 (illus.). fig. 7
Wendy Symonds (Editor), Look, 'The Centre for Asian Art Studies', pg. 25, Heidelberg, Sep 1998, 25 (colour illus.).

Provenance

Collection Beurdeley, Matthews, London, Apr 1981, London/England, offered for sale in the exhibition ‘Burmese art and its influences’, April 1981, London.

Alex Biancardi, pre Apr 1997, Sydney/New South Wales/Australia, purchased by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 1997.