Untitled

Unknown

12th–14th century · Mammoth ivory · Asian Art

This extraordinary group is a rare example of Buddhist sculpture made in China using mammoth ivory as opposed to elephant ivory. Based on a text known as the Flower Garland Sutra, it depicts the founder of Buddhism, Shakyamuni, seated on a mythical animal known as a qilin and attended by the bodhisattvas Samantabhadhra (Chinese: Puxian) on an elephant and Manjushri (Chinese: Wenshu) on a lion. The former symbolizes virtuous practice, the later wisdom.

Artist

Unknown

Date

12th–14th century

Medium

Mammoth ivory

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Fletcher Fund, 1934