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An image of Amitabha Buddha

Unknown Artist

Title
Amitabha Buddha
Place of origin
Central Java, Java, Indonesia
Year
late 8th century-mid 9th century
Media
Sculpture
Medium
andesite
Dimensions
105.0 x 88.0 x 65.0cm
Signature & date
Not signed. Not dated.
Credit
Purchased with funds provided by the Art Gallery Society of New South Wales 2000
Accession number
144.2000
Location
Upper Asian gallery
Further information

This monumental stone image of the seated Buddha Amitabha, the Buddha of the West, sits with his hands held in the meditation gesture (in Sanskrit known as 'dhyana mudra'), his feet in the 'vajrasana' position of both soles upwards, and wearing the thin diaphanous robe of a monk. Deeply immersed in meditation, the Buddha emanates the serenity, wisdom and spirituality expected of the central icon of Buddhism. It is likely that originally this Buddha was part of a specific grouping. For example, Amitabha, together with Shakyamuni, the Historical Buddha, and Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, constitutes the powerful triumvirate of Past, Present and Future Buddhas. As well, Amitabha as the Buddha of the West, appears in mandalas on the western quarter.

The concept of the mandala, a diagrammatic representation of the invisible forces that govern the cosmos, was brought to Indonesia with Vajrayana Buddhism. Vajrayana mandalas commonly have five Buddhas: the Buddhas of the Four Directions, presided over by Vairochana, the Buddha of the Centre. The largest three-dimensional mandala, and a site of world cultural significance, is at Borobudur, an astounding 9th century monument that contains nearly 500 Buddhist statues. Stylistically this Buddha is close to those at Borobudur, and presumably belonged to such a set that once constituted a temple mandala, with Amitabha Buddhas presiding over the west.

The Asian Collections, AGNSW, 2003, pg.339.

Bibliography (10)

Look (Oct 2000), Judith White (Australia) (Editor), Fiona Hardie (Australia), South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Look (Dec 2000-Jan 2001), Jane Hampson (Editor), Fiona Hardie (Australia), South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Buddha: Radiant awakening (2001), Jackie Menzies (Australia) (Editor), Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Look: 1953-2003 celebrating 50 years (May 2003), Jill Sykes (Australia) (Editor), 10pm [print management] (Australia), Newtown, New South Wales, Australia.

Look (Sep 2003), Jill Sykes (Australia) (Editor), 10pm [print management] (Australia), Newtown, New South Wales, Australia.

Arts of Asia (Nov 2003-Dec 2003), Tuyet Nguyet (Editor), Arts of Asia Publications Ltd (Hong Kong, estab. 1970), Hong Kong.

Orientations (Sep 2000), Elizabeth Knight (Hong Kong) (Editor in Chief), Orientations Magazine Ltd. (Hong Kong), Hong Kong.

The Asian Collections Art Gallery of New South Wales (2003), Jackie Menzies (Australia) (Editor), Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874), Domain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Inspirations - Art ideas for primary and middle years (2004), Ann Macarthur (Australia) (Author), Curriculum Corporation, Carlton South, Victoria, Australia.

Look (May 2006), Jill Sykes (Australia) (Editor), 10pm [print management] (Australia), Newtown, New South Wales, Australia.

Exhibition history (1)

Buddha: Radiant awakening, (10 Nov 2001–24 Feb 2002), at Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874), Art Gallery Rd Domain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 2000.