Buddha in Meditation
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.The Buddha sits on a lotus throne, his hands resting in a meditation gesture. The open robe, with the right shoulder exposed, points to southern Indian or Sri Lankan influences. It was found at the mouth of the Mekong Delta, downstream from the Funan political center Oc Eo. Sanskrit letters are incised on three petals, spelling, in part, Suryadatta—possibly the name of the donor; other syllables may be honorifics associated with the name or may be protective spells (dharani), charms generating mystical power.
cat. no. 47
cat. no. 47
Artwork Details
- Title: Buddha in Meditation
- Date: 8th–9th century
- Culture: Southern Vietnam
- Medium: Sandstone
- Dimensions: H. 18 5/16 in. (46.5 cm); W. 12 15/16 in. (32.8 cm); D. 7 1/16 in. (18 cm); Wt. 44 lbs (20 kg)
- Classification: Sculpture
- Credit Line: Lent by National Museum of Vietnamese History, Ho Chi Minh City (BTLS 5519)
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art