Preview
Document Type
Image
Publication Date
4-1-2002
Abstract
Shakyamuni Stong Sku (or 1000 Bodies) Thangka Tibetan, early 20th century ground mineral pigment on cotton and silk Gift of Bruce Walker '53, 2002.4.9
Recommended Citation
Museum, Emison, "Shakyamuni Stong Sku (or 1000 Bodies) Thangka" (2002). Shidzuo Iikubo '23 Asian Art Gallery. 9, Scholarly and Creative Work from DePauw University.
https://scholarship.depauw.edu/iikubo/9
COinS
Comments
Seated cross-legged in the center of this thangka is Shakyamuni, also known as Gautama Buddha, is the Buddha of our current historical period. As the young prince Siddhartha, shakyamuni sought and obtained enlightenment after renouncing his kingdom, discovering the "Middle Path" and teaching Buddhism for forty-five years. He is shown seated in the meditation position, and is surrounded by images of forty-nine Buddhas in the background. Three of the thirty-two physical signs of a Great Being (lakshanas) are visible in this depiction of Shakyamuni. Beginning at the top of the head, the ushnisha (crown-protrusion), symbolizes the cosmic openness of enlightened being's consciousness. Between his eyes is the urna, a small tuft of white hair that grows at the spot where a fierce deity has a third eye. Visible on the palm of his left hand and the sole of his left foot, are golden chakras. Marks such as the ushnisha and urna are found on almost every Buddha, however, the chakras are rarely depicted. Shakyamuni is shown here wearing patched monks robes, reminiscent of the earliest followers of Buddhism. His royal origins are marked by his elongated earlobes, which would have been stretched from wearing heavy jewels. There are six combinations of seated postures (asanas) and hand positions (muduras) represented and repeated in this thangka. All figures of Shakyamuni rest in dhyanasana, the meditative pose, with the legs locked and both feet visible. The main figure holds his hands close to his heart in dharmackara, the teaching mudra. Depicting generosity, Shakyamuni is also shown with his right hand in the varada mudra (upside down with palm outward) and his left palm turned upward in his lap in the gesture of meditation (dhyana). Other depictions of shakyamuni include: both hands in meditation; left hand int he teaching mudra with the right hand in meditation; left hand teaching with the right hand in the gesture of fearlessness (flat with palm turned toward the ground); and right hand draped over the knee, middle finger touching the earth (bhumisparsa) while the left hand rests in meditation. The repeated images of Shakyamuni were completed in order for the artist and viewer to gain merit.