The Collection
The American Wing Ancient Near Eastern Art Arms and Armor The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing Asian Art The Cloisters The Costume Institute Drawings and Prints Egyptian Art European Paintings European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Greek and Roman Art Islamic Art Robert Lehman Collection The Libraries Medieval Art Musical Instruments Photographs Antonio Ratti Textile Center Modern and Contemporary Art

Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara

Southern Vietnam

second half of the 7th–early 8th century

Not on view

Among the most beautiful images of the Avalokiteshvara from all of Southeast Asia, this savior stands on a pair of lotus blooms, his eyes downcast as he extends grace to devotees. He wears an elaborate diadem with the Amitabha Buddha prominently displayed. His left hand holds a lotus bud, evoking Padmapani, the lotus bearer, and his right holds an ascetic’s water vessel (kamandalu). Stylistically, the figure relates to the pre-Angkorian center of Phnom Da, southern Cambodia. The discovery of this major icon in the Mekong Delta serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of religious centers and their workshop practices during this period.

cat. no. 137

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Sandstone, Southern Vietnam — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Sandstone, Southern Vietnam

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Sandstone, Southern Vietnam

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Sandstone, Southern Vietnam

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Sandstone, Southern Vietnam

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Sandstone, Southern Vietnam

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Sandstone, Southern Vietnam

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara

Date: second half of the 7th–early 8th century

Culture: Southern Vietnam

Medium: Sandstone

Dimensions: H. 74 in. (188 cm); W. 19 5/16 in. (49 cm); D. 11 7/16 in. (29 cm); Wt. 446 lbs (202.3 kg)

Classification: Sculpture

Credit Line: Lent by Musée National des Arts Asiatiques–Guimet, Paris (MA5063)

The Met

Asian Art at The Met

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world.