Amitabha Buddha at The British Museum, London

myminifactory

This figure represents Amitabha Buddha, the Buddha of Endless Light. According to the inscription on its base, it was dedicated to the Chongguang Temple in Hancui village in AD 585. The presumed location is southwest of Baoding in present-day Hebei province in north China, in a region renowned for its exquisite white marble sculptures. Amitabha is the chief Buddha of the Pure Land sect popular in China during the sixth to seventh centuries. Faith in Amitabha is believed to ensure rebirth in his Pure Land, where achieving an enlightened state is guaranteed. Buddhism was made a national religion under the Buddhist emperors of the Sui dynasty, who achieved the reunification of much of China by AD 589. The Sui Emperor Wendi (reigned AD 581-604) and his successor sought to legitimize their ascent to the throne by publicly displaying their devotion, and they constructed numerous temples across the empire. This statue, once covered with gilding and vibrant pigments, was flanked by two smaller figures of bodhisattvas (enlightened beings). The inscription on one of the bodhisattvas reveals that the temple that first housed the triad was destroyed in a fire and rebuilt during the Tang dynasty in AD 685. Although Buddhism spread throughout China, it was a foreign religion whose principles did not always align with traditional Chinese values. Buddhist imagery was often accompanied by Chinese motifs, reflecting Buddhism's adaptability and Chinese inclusiveness. Most of the Chinese sculpture from the fourth to the fourteenth century is Buddhist. The two emperors of the Sui dynasty (AD 589-618) were both devout Buddhists and they are recorded as being responsible for the creation and repair of many Buddhist images. This marble figure of the Buddha Amitabha, the Buddha of the Western Paradise, is thought to be one such work. The inscription in its base records that it was dedicated at the Chongguang temple in Hancui village in the fifth year of Kaihung, AD 585. The hands are missing but the right hand would have been raised, palm outwards in the gesture of reassurance (abhaya mudra), and the left hand lowered in the gesture of liberality (varada mudra). The figure has a very solid form and drapery in extremely flat folds, typical of the Sui period. The Buddha Amitabha was originally accompanied by a smaller standing bodhisattva, which is now in the Tokyo National Museum. This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for the public to access for free. Scan the World is an open source, community effort, if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help. Scanned: Photogrammetry (Processed using Agisoft PhotoScan)