Bronze Male-Form Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, Song dynasty - Soto Asian Art 禪藏

Bronze Male-Form Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, Song dynasty

Estimate Period: 10 th – 15 th Century

Height: 24.5cm

Translated in Chinese by Indian Buddhist scholar, Dharmakṣema; the Buddhist scripture, The Compassionate White Lotus Flower Sutra ( 悲華經 ). The sutra describes before Avalokiteśvara ( 觀世音 ), cultivate himself to Buddhism; under Gautama Buddha ( 釋迦牟尼 ), alongside with his father Chakravarti ( 轉輪王 ) and his younger brother.

Avalokiteśvara, in earlier times, was the eldest son of Chakravarti formerly recognised as, “ 不煦 ”, and his younger brother as, “ 尼摩 ”. Under the practice of Gautama Buddha, Chakravarti (father of Avalokiteśvara) was given a dharma name, Amitābha “ 阿弥陀佛 ”; eldest son of Chakravarti, ordained as Avalokiteśvara “ 觀世音菩薩 ”; and youngest son of Chakravarti, ordained under the name Mahāsthāmaprāpta “ 大勢至菩薩 ”.

Prior to Sui ( 隋 ) and Tang dynasty ( 唐年代 ), when India at the height of its power. Buddhist missionaries and scholars traveled abroad and began the earliest phase of Buddhism across Tibet and China. Avalokiteśvara ( 觀世音菩薩 ) originally depicted as a male Bodhisattva in paintings and sculptures. Following, Sui and Tang dynasty, Avalokiteśvara began a gender transition from male to female form. After the fall and the end of the Song dynasty ( 大致宋朝後 ), Avalokiteśvara has completed its gender change from male to female form; portray characteristics, appearance, and temperament of a Chinese female goddess ( 聖母 ).

All forms of male Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva Buddhist arts during the Song dynasty are considered exceptionally rare, among surviving works of ancient Chinese art. With wood carvings male form of Avalokiteśvara as most prevalent, followed by paintings, then bronzes, in particular with copper casting sculptures which are highly sought after among collectors.

The bronze male-form Avalokiteśvara demonstrates exceptionally detailed craftsmanship. It is precise and well-balanced combine with an ancient naturalistic expression present in Song dynasty Buddhist art. Seated in the great cloud ( 雲椅 ), dress in loose robe tied in a sash at the waist; above the lips present with a mustache with a beard at base of the chin, hair folded behind at shoulder length. Crown placed center above the forehead present with a symbol of Avalokiteśvara, with down casting eyes display the powerful glaze of a maleform of bodhisattva conjoined in compose facial expression.