Bust of a Bodhisattva Shakyamuni

Bust of a Bodhisattva Shakyamuni

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Representations of Shakyamuni prior to his enlightenment as a bodhisattva were popular in Gandhara, as they emphasize his high rebirth and potential to become a chakravartin king (universal monarch). It seems likely that such images were also intended to glorify Shakyamuni's great departure from the palace—the moment he leaves the illusory world of desire and attachment to seek enlightenment.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Bust of a Bodhisattva ShakyamuniBust of a Bodhisattva ShakyamuniBust of a Bodhisattva ShakyamuniBust of a Bodhisattva ShakyamuniBust of a Bodhisattva Shakyamuni

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. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.