Freed From the Vault – August 2016

FREED FROM THE VAULT

AMITAYUS

Tshe dpag med

 85.04.0647

Painted and Gilded Copper Alloy

China, 1780 – Dated by inscription

 85.04.0648

Painted and Gilded Copper Alloy

China, 1770 – Dated by inscription

Amitayus, the Buddha of Eternal Life, is extremely popular, since his special ability it to prolong life. Many Buddhists commission images of him in both sculpture and paintings to gain merit and assure long life for themselves or someone else.

These two sculptures were commissioned by the Qianlong Emperor, one for his 60^th birthday and one for his 70^th. The inscription reads “Respectfully made in the Keng Zhi year of the Qianlong reign of the great Qing Dynasty,” in 1780.

Thank you to the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and the Northfield Bank Foundation for their support of our Sunday Programs.