<em>Seated Bodhisattva Maitreya</em>, 557-581. Bronze with traces of gilding, 9 3/4 x 5 1/2 x 2 1/4 in. (24.8 x 14 x 5.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Asian Art Council, 88.93. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 88.93_SL1.jpg)

Seated Bodhisattva Maitreya, 557-581. Bronze with traces of gilding, 9 3/4 x 5 1/2 x 2 1/4 in. (24.8 x 14 x 5.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Asian Art Council, 88.93. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 88.93_SL1.jpg)

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Seated Bodhisattva Maitreya

Asian Art

On View: Asian Galleries, Southwest, 2nd floor

This sixth-century seated Maitreya is the earliest Chinese Buddhist sculpture in the Museum's collection. Probably intended for private devotion, the diminutive image of the bodhisattva seated in meditation (the sculpture's throne is now missing) is one of the few Maitreya bronzes attributed to the Northern Zhou dynasty. As part of the short-lived Northern and Southern dynasties, the Northern Zhou ruled an area of north-central China. Because of the political instability and the frequent wars that plagued the dynasty, Buddhist cults promising rebirth in paradise became increasingly popular. The popular bodhisattva Maitreya, as described in the Lotus Sutra, presided over a paradise for reborn believers.

MEDIUM Bronze with traces of gilding

Place Made: China

DATES 557-581

DYNASTY Northern Zhou Dynasty

PERIOD Northern Zhou Dynasty

DIMENSIONS 9 3/4 x 5 1/2 x 2 1/4 in. (24.8 x 14 x 5.7 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Asian Art

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Asian Galleries, Southwest, 2nd floor

EXHIBITIONS

Arts of Buddhism

ACCESSION NUMBER 88.93

CREDIT LINE Gift of the Asian Art Council

RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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CAPTION Seated Bodhisattva Maitreya, 557-581. Bronze with traces of gilding, 9 3/4 x 5 1/2 x 2 1/4 in. (24.8 x 14 x 5.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Asian Art Council, 88.93. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 88.93_SL1.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 88.93_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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