Indian and Himalayan Art Traveling Shrine in the Shape of a
Chorten, with ArhatsMade in Tibet, Asia Kadam?, c. 14th century
Artist/maker unknown, Tibetan Boxwood (shrine) and fir wood
(doors), pigment, gold leaf, copper alloy (doors probably of a
later period 1999-44-1Purchased with the Stella Kramrisch Fund,
1999 LabelThe central figure of the shrine, Shakyamuni, the
founder of Buddhism, makes the “earth-touching” gesture with his
right hand, calling the earth to witness his enlightenment,
while his left hand rests in his lap in the gesture of
meditation, holding a begging bowl. Surrounding Shakyamuni are
his disciples, the arhats, as well as his principal students,
Shariputra and Maudgalyayana, both standing next to him holding
a bowl and a mendicant’s staff. The interiors of the shrine
doors depict armor-clad protectors of the four cardinal
directions, while the exterior is decorated with a stupa, a
symbol of the Buddha’s enlightened mind. Social Tags [?]buddhist
sculpture [x] tibetan [x] travelling shrine