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Crowned Buddha Seated in a Niche

Asian Art

On View: Asian Galleries, Southwest, 2nd floor
This Buddha figure makes the gesture of teaching. Buddhist law, known as dharma, is symbolized by a spoked wheel; when a teacher makes a wheel shape with his fingers and touches it with his other hand, he “turns the wheel of the law,” thereby dispersing the truth. This bejeweled figure might be read as the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, who is said to wear a crown when he preaches in the heavens, or it could be Vairochana, a celestial Buddha who is often represented making the teaching gesture.
MEDIUM Schist
  • Place Made: Bihar, India
  • DATES 9th–10th century
    PERIOD Pala Period
    DIMENSIONS 22 7/16 × 13 3/16 × 2 3/4 in., 87 lb. (57 × 33.5 × 7 cm, 39.46kg) mount (with object): 22 1/2 × 15 × 4 3/4 in. (57.2 × 38.1 × 12.1 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Asian Art
    ACCESSION NUMBER 27.67
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Frederic B. Pratt
    EXHIBITIONS
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Asian Galleries, Southwest, 2nd floor
    CAPTION Crowned Buddha Seated in a Niche, 9th–10th century. Schist, 22 7/16 × 13 3/16 × 2 3/4 in., 87 lb. (57 × 33.5 × 7 cm, 39.46kg). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Frederic B. Pratt, 27.67. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 27.67_acetate_bw.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 27.67_acetate_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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     <em>Crowned Buddha Seated in a Niche</em>, 9th–10th century. Schist, 22 7/16 × 13 3/16 × 2 3/4 in., 87 lb. (57 × 33.5 × 7 cm, 39.46kg). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Frederic B. Pratt, 27.67. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 27.67_acetate_bw.jpg)