An
illuminating gold gilded bronze Shakyamuni seated in Padmasana posture on a double-lotus
pedestal, with a jewel adorns the ajna chakra, he holds a medicine bowl in his
left hand, a small thunderbolt placed in front,
his right hand touches down in bhumisparsa mudra (Earth Witness gesture). The
statue portrays the young Prince Siddhartha at the moment of enlightenment.
The voluminous
figure is magnificently modeled and cast in two sections, both the nimbus and
the robe of the Buddha are featured with elaborate details, in hand-chased fire
gilded repousse-- such as the twenty-seven finely embossed wisdom pearls on
the nimbus, and among the dense floral motifs
of the Buddha’s robe, there are five Makara Dragons in deep relief, each is beautifully
rendered in length, and embellished with ultra fine scales and hairlines. Sealed
with a double-vajra repousse copper plate, we can positively assured that this
temple quality statue was consecrated upon completion; thus the true body of the
Buddha (Dharmakaya) is believed to be inhabiting the image.
