Search in Rijksstudio
The bodhisattva Manjushri
anonymous, c. 800 - c. 900, sculpture, AK-MAK-240
In China, Manjushri is venerated as one of the first advocates of Buddhism. On Java he appears as a young man wearing straps of jewellery across his chest. This Manjushri is probably gesturing the turning of the wheel of wisdom: this symbolises the start of the Buddhist cycle of learning and the…
On display in Asian pavilion, room 1
Shiva Nataraja
anonymous, c. 1100 - c. 1200, sculpture, AK-MAK-187
Shiva is depicted here as Nataraja (Lord of the Dance), standing in a ring of fire in the anandatandava position. He is both the creator and destroyer of the world. He is standing on a dwarf, symbolising ignorance. Richly decorated bronze statues of Hindu gods like this are carried in processions…
On display in Asian pavilion, room 1
Two temple guardians
anonymous, c. 1300 - c. 1400, sculpture, AK-RAK-2007-1-A
On display in Asian pavilion, room 2
Two temple guardians
anonymous, c. 1300 - c. 1400, sculpture, AK-RAK-2007-1-B
These guards stand at the entrance to a temple to ward off evil. They are holding a vajra, with which to crush ignorance. Their open and shut mouths represent the first and last letters of the Japanese script: A and N: this symbolises the totality of sounds and letters, of knowledge. Worshippers who…
On display in Asian pavilion, room 2
Sleeping Vishnu
anonymous, c. 1100 - c. 1300, sculpture, AK-MAK-224
On display in Asian pavilion, room 1
The bodhisattva Maitreya
anonymous, 500 - 525, sculpture, AK-MAK-71
On display in Asian pavilion, room 2
Makara
anonymous, c. 800 - c. 900, sculpture, AK-MAK-247
On display in Asian pavilion, room 1
The Buddha Amida
anonymous, c. 1125 - c. 1175, sculpture, AK-MAK-294
On display in Asian pavilion, room 2
Nandishvara
anonymous, c. 800 - c. 900, sculpture, AK-MAK-232-A
On display in Asian pavilion, room 1