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Reliquary(?) with Scenes from the Life of Buddha

ca. 10th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 237
This container likely served as a Buddhist reliquary. There are three scenes: the first shows the miraculous birth of Siddhartha, the historical Buddha. He emerges from the right side of his mother, Queen Maya, who is supported by her sister, Mahaprajapati. The second scene depicts the temptation of Siddhartha as he meditates at Bodhgaya immediately before attaining enlightenment. The third scene is a rare representation of the crowned and jeweled Buddha setting into motion the wheel of law, a reference to his first sermon at the Deer Park at Sarnath.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Reliquary(?) with Scenes from the Life of Buddha
  • Date: ca. 10th century
  • Culture: India (Jammu & Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir) or Pakistan
  • Medium: Bone with traces of color and gold paint
  • Dimensions: H. 5 3/8 in. (13.6 cm); W. 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm); D. 2 9/16 in. (6.5 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture
  • Credit Line: Gift of John and Evelyn Kossak, The Kronos Collections, 1985
  • Object Number: 1985.392.1
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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India (Jammu and Kashmir) or Pakistan (Swat Valley)
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Preaching Buddha, Bronze with silver inlay, India (Jammu & Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir) or Pakistan
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India (Jammu & Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir) or Pakistan
8th century
Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Transcendent Wisdom, Copper alloy with silver inlay, Kashmir
On loan to The Met
Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Transcendent Wisdom
Kashmir
9th century
Narasimha, the Man-Lion Incarnation of Vishnu, Slaying the Evil King Hiranyakashipu, Stone, India (Jammu & Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir) or Pakistan
Narasimha, the Man-Lion Incarnation of Vishnu, Slaying the Evil King Hiranyakashipu
India (Jammu & Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir) or Pakistan
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Thailand
13th century

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Reliquary(?) with Scenes from the Life of Buddha - India (Jammu & Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir) or Pakistan - The Metropolitan Museum of Art