Bodhisattva

myminifactory

A revered bodhisattva statue from Shanxi Province stands tall, crafted with precision during the Jin Dynasty around 1200 AD. The delicate figure is hewn from Cassia wood, still bearing subtle hints of polychromy. Set against a backdrop at the Musée du Cinquantenaire in Brussels, Belgium, this masterpiece was brought to life using ReMake and ReCap software from AutoDesk. In Buddhist tradition, a bodhisattva embodies the promise of enlightenment but chooses to defer its entrance into nirvana to guide all living beings towards spiritual awakening. The striking crystalline pupils, crafted from rock crystal, reflect the significance of an ancient ritual where a statue's eyes are ritually opened to bestow upon it a soul and transform it into an object of devotion. The intricate tiara on her head, the gleaming necklace around her neck, and the flowing drapery cinched at the waist by a majestic belt all pay homage to the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni. Originally situated in a temple alongside a larger Buddha, this bodhisattva was designed to be viewed from an oblique angle, as if seen through the eyes of a Chinese sanctuary visitor. For more updates on art and culture, follow @GeoffreyMarchal on Twitter.