Antique Chinese Bronze Buddha Statue
Shakyamuni
No Fear Mudra
Origin: China, circa: 19th century
H 14.5 in.(37cm), W 9.5 in.(24cm), D 7.5 in.(19cm)
Condition: Excellent!

Ming style Shakyamuni, as denoted by the figure’s large head and small round body. An engaging bronze cast in excellent condition, Shakyamuni has his right hand raised in the abhaya mudra, a gesture of fearlessness originally used to quell a rampaging elephant, as chronicled in scriptures and frescoes of the bodhisattva. The middle finger of the right hand is leaning slightly forward, which is more commonly seen in the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism. A flowering sash and trim wrap around the body and arms of Shakyamuni, perhaps a variation on the Flowering Garland Sutra, a text on which a branch of Chinese Buddhism that is similar to the Japanese Shingon, called Huayan, is based. His left hand rests in his lap, taking on the vardra mudra, and is a symbol of compassion.