Sakyamuni Buddha in the University of Pennsylvania Museum, November 2009

Sakyamuni Buddha
China
Dry lacquer

Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368)

#C 405

Sakyamuni was the historical founder of Buddhism who lived between 563 and 483 BC. He is seated in meditation.

The dry lacquer technique was first used in China during the Six Dynasties period (AD 220-581). It was later revived in the 14th century under the influence of Li Yuan, a Chinese sculptor who studied in Nepal. Layers of cloth soaked in lacquer were built up over a temporary clay core to create a durable yet lightweight hollow image which could be easily carried in processions. This technique and the Nepalese facial characteristics suggest Li Yuan’s influence.

Sacred items were often placed in the inferior cavities of Buddha images to increase the potency of the image. Five Buddhist sutras, or texts, were found inside this image, four in Chinese and one in Tibetan. The Tibetan text dates from around AD 1200, while a woodblock print illustration from one of the Chinese texts is from the late 14th century.

Text from the U. Penn. Museum label