A gilt-copper figure of Shakyamuni Buddha, Nepal, 13th / 14th century | 尼泊爾 十三 / 十四世紀 鎏金銅釋迦摩尼佛坐像

The historical Buddha Shakyamuni is seated in the adamantine posture (vajraparyankasana), reaching forward with his right hand in the earth-touching gesture (bhumisparsha mudra), calling the earth to witness his triumph over the demon Mara prior to his enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.

Compare the broad shoulders, narrowed waist, and the ‘rice-grain’ pattern on the hem of the close-fitting robe with Nepalese Early Malla Period (circa 1200-1479) sculpture such as the thirteenth century seated Buddha in the Norton Simon Museum, see Pratapaditya Pal, Asian Art at the Norton Simon Museum, Vol. II: Art from the Himalayas and China, New Haven, 2003, pl. 51; and the renowned thirteenth century standing Buddha in Jane Casey et al, Divine Presence: Arts of India and the Himalayas, Casa Asia, Barcelona, 2003, cat. no. 39. Also compare the seated thirteenth or fourteenth century Nepalese Shakyamuni Buddha at Ngor monastery, included in Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet, Hong Kong, 2001, vol. I, pl. 170C.

本尊造像呈現釋迦牟尼佛正處於成道前關鍵一刻之姿，結金剛跏趺坐，右手前伸施觸地印，召喚大地為其作證，見證其於菩提伽耶降伏魔障、證得菩提。

可比較本像寬厚肩膀、收束腰身，以及貼體袈裟衣緣所飾「米粒紋」裝飾，與尼泊爾早期瑪拉王朝時期（約1200–1479年）佛像風格相符。此類特徵可見於十三世紀一尊佛坐像，現藏美國諾頓賽門美術館，參見 Pratapaditya Pal 著，《Asian Art at the Norton Simon Museum, Vol. II: Art from the Himalayas and China》，紐哈芬，2003年，圖版51；亦可參考 Jane Casey 等人編，《Divine Presence: Arts of India and the Himalayas》，Casa Asia，巴塞隆納，2003年，編號39，所載著名十三世紀佛立像。另可比較藏於俄寺之十三至十四世紀尼泊爾釋迦牟尼佛坐像，著錄於 Ulrich von Schroeder，《Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet》，卷1，香港，2001年，圖版170C。