|
Pair of sculptural standing bodhisattvas
Avalokitesvara and Mahastheamaprapta, the
high mukuta crowns, each
bejewelled with either a small Amithaba
icon, or the sacred bottle, one hand raised
in vitarka mudra, the other one softly
opened with palm up, the bodies slightly
bent in tribanga pose, the bare chests with
an ornate necklace, flowing garments
reaching the feet and partly covering them.
Traces of the original lacquered
pigmentation
remain.
The confession of the Great Vehicle,
Mahayana (chin.: Dasheng), spread from
Kashmir, Gandhara, Sogdia and Inner Asia
into China, and further to Korea and Japan.
It teaches that salvation is possible to all
sentient beings because they possess the
Buddha nature in them and hence all have
the potentiality of being enlightened.
Enlightenment is simply achieved by faith
and devotion to Buddha and the religious
ideal, the Bodhisattva (chin.: Pusa),
Pratyekabuddha (chin.: Pizhifo) or Arhat
(chin.: Aluohan, short: Luohan). These
beings, though qualified to enter nirvana,
delay their final entry in order to bring every
sentient being across the sea of misery to
the calm shores of enlightenment.
Avalokitesvara ("Observing the Sounds of
the World", chin.: Guanshiyin, short:
Guanyin, or Guanzizai), the Bodhisattva of
Compassion, is one of the most venerated
icon of the Buddhist Pantheon. While
Mahasthamaprapta (Dashizhi) is a
bodhisattva mahasattva that represents the
power of wisdom, often depicted in a trinity
with Amitabha and Avalokitesvara
(Guanyin), especially in Pure Land
Buddhism. His name literally means "arrival
of the great strength". In this case,
the pair would have been
placed to the side of the main Buddha
figure (Amitabha) as his
flanking attendants, in the main temple hall.
- (LA.559)
|
