Gilt-bronze Maitreya in Meditation (National Treasure No. 83): Difference between revisions
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The Bangasayusang is seated on a round pedestal and posed with its right leg of the crossed over its left knee while the figure's right hand is touching its cheek and the left hand rests on the crossed leg. This contemplative pose was a popular subject of Buddhist art and the archetype spread from India to China and Korea and then to Japan. Other common similarities of the Maitreya statues of this style is the use of drapery on the seat on which the figure sits. Chinese depictions of the drapery that the Maitreya sits on are highly stylized, stiff, and formalized. However, the artists' depiction of the drapery on the Bangasayusang is flowing and realistic which gives the statue an illusion of animation. The slender, almost lithe body of the figure suggests Baekje styles at work. However, the bridgeline and sharp nose of the figure suggests a [[Silla]] provenance. The figure is perfectly proportional and the sensuality of the draping both suggests that the sculptor based this work on a real model. Other figures of the Maitreya-type are often distorted or stylized to fit the artistic tradition the sculptor was working from. In this case, the realism of the figure suggests that the sculptor was from the Baekje Kingdom because many Baekje figures are proportional and realistic. The harmony between the lower half and upper half of the statue is example of the attention to detail and realistic proportionality. The figure has a tri-fold crown on its head which is very simple, unlike other works of this genre which have highly elaborate headdresses. The halo of the figure has long since been lost although a part of the halo remains attached to the figure. The Bangasayusang is also bare-chested which adds to the simplicity of the figure. The figure gives a sense of calm meditation but still conveys a sense of moving dynamism because of its posture and the artistic styling of the bronze. |
The Bangasayusang is seated on a round pedestal and posed with its right leg of the crossed over its left knee while the figure's right hand is touching its cheek and the left hand rests on the crossed leg. This contemplative pose was a popular subject of Buddhist art and the archetype spread from India to China and Korea and then to Japan. Other common similarities of the Maitreya statues of this style is the use of drapery on the seat on which the figure sits. Chinese depictions of the drapery that the Maitreya sits on are highly stylized, stiff, and formalized. However, the artists' depiction of the drapery on the Bangasayusang is flowing and realistic which gives the statue an illusion of animation. The slender, almost lithe body of the figure suggests Baekje styles at work. However, the bridgeline and sharp nose of the figure suggests a [[Silla]] provenance. The figure is perfectly proportional and the sensuality of the draping both suggests that the sculptor based this work on a real model. Other figures of the Maitreya-type are often distorted or stylized to fit the artistic tradition the sculptor was working from. In this case, the realism of the figure suggests that the sculptor was from the Baekje Kingdom because many Baekje figures are proportional and realistic. The harmony between the lower half and upper half of the statue is example of the attention to detail and realistic proportionality. The figure has a tri-fold crown on its head which is very simple, unlike other works of this genre which have highly elaborate headdresses. The halo of the figure has long since been lost although a part of the halo remains attached to the figure. The Bangasayusang is also bare-chested which adds to the simplicity of the figure. The figure gives a sense of calm meditation but still conveys a sense of moving dynamism because of its posture and the artistic styling of the bronze. |
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The Miroku bosatsu at the Koryu-ji Temple of [[Kyoto]], [[National treasures of Japan|Japanese National Treasure]] No. 1, is the twin of the Bangasayusang and is almost certainly of Korean origin. <ref> [http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN4770021879&id=kbng7myGQH4C&pg=PA286&lpg=PA286&dq=japanese+%22national+treasure%22&sig=XQW4AhaEFiXBwoWUw9tXc9DIqPQ]. [http://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Fac/Adler/Reln275/Jap-Kor-art.htm]. Both South Korean and Japanese National Treasures are numbered by order of official designation, not by order of importance.</ref> The Miroku is carved from red pine and may be the statue the [[Nihon Shoki]] mentions that a King of [[Silla]] sent to the Yamato court. The statues both share the elegant contemplative pose, highly proportional figures, realistic draperies, slim bodies, and plain tri-fold crowns. |
The Miroku bosatsu at the Koryu-ji Temple of [[Kyoto]], [[National treasures of Japan|Japanese National Treasure]] Sculpture No. 1, is the twin of the Bangasayusang and is almost certainly of Korean origin. <ref> [http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN4770021879&id=kbng7myGQH4C&pg=PA286&lpg=PA286&dq=japanese+%22national+treasure%22&sig=XQW4AhaEFiXBwoWUw9tXc9DIqPQ]. [http://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Fac/Adler/Reln275/Jap-Kor-art.htm]. Both South Korean and Japanese National Treasures are numbered by '''order of official designation, not by order of importance'''.</ref> The Miroku is carved from red pine and may be the statue the [[Nihon Shoki]] mentions that a King of [[Silla]] sent to the Yamato court. The statues both share the elegant contemplative pose, highly proportional figures, realistic draperies, slim bodies, and plain tri-fold crowns. |
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The Bangasayusang is often compared to [[The Thinker]] because of its contemplative pose. |
The Bangasayusang is often compared to [[The Thinker]] because of its contemplative pose. |
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Revision as of 12:13, 11 June 2006
National Treasure of Korea No. 83, the Bangasayusang, or Geumdong Mireuk Bosal Bangasayusang (literally Gilt-Bronze Maitreya Bodhisattva Half-sitting Thinking Statue), is a beautiful gilt-bronze statute of Maitreya, the future Buddha, in a semi-seated contemplative pose. It is commonly referred to as the Contemplative Bodhisattva or Gilt-Bronze Seated Maitreya in English.
The Bangasayusang is widely acknowledged to be one of the finest Buddhist sculptures ever produced and is a masterpiece of Korean art. It is now housed at the National Museum of Korea and is one of the most popular exhibits there.
The statute is believed to have been made in the early 7th century and was probably produced by the Baekje although some believe that this was a Silla piece. It is 93.5 centimeters tall or approximately 3 feet and one inch in height. It is made of bronze, and was at one point plated in gold.
The Bangasayusang is seated on a round pedestal and posed with its right leg of the crossed over its left knee while the figure's right hand is touching its cheek and the left hand rests on the crossed leg. This contemplative pose was a popular subject of Buddhist art and the archetype spread from India to China and Korea and then to Japan. Other common similarities of the Maitreya statues of this style is the use of drapery on the seat on which the figure sits. Chinese depictions of the drapery that the Maitreya sits on are highly stylized, stiff, and formalized. However, the artists' depiction of the drapery on the Bangasayusang is flowing and realistic which gives the statue an illusion of animation. The slender, almost lithe body of the figure suggests Baekje styles at work. However, the bridgeline and sharp nose of the figure suggests a Silla provenance. The figure is perfectly proportional and the sensuality of the draping both suggests that the sculptor based this work on a real model. Other figures of the Maitreya-type are often distorted or stylized to fit the artistic tradition the sculptor was working from. In this case, the realism of the figure suggests that the sculptor was from the Baekje Kingdom because many Baekje figures are proportional and realistic. The harmony between the lower half and upper half of the statue is example of the attention to detail and realistic proportionality. The figure has a tri-fold crown on its head which is very simple, unlike other works of this genre which have highly elaborate headdresses. The halo of the figure has long since been lost although a part of the halo remains attached to the figure. The Bangasayusang is also bare-chested which adds to the simplicity of the figure. The figure gives a sense of calm meditation but still conveys a sense of moving dynamism because of its posture and the artistic styling of the bronze.
The Miroku bosatsu at the Koryu-ji Temple of Kyoto, Japanese National Treasure Sculpture No. 1, is the twin of the Bangasayusang and is almost certainly of Korean origin. [1] The Miroku is carved from red pine and may be the statue the Nihon Shoki mentions that a King of Silla sent to the Yamato court. The statues both share the elegant contemplative pose, highly proportional figures, realistic draperies, slim bodies, and plain tri-fold crowns.
The Bangasayusang is often compared to The Thinker because of its contemplative pose.
National Treasure No.83, although priceless, is insured for an estimated 50 billion won and is the most expensive national treasure of Korea. [2]