Monumental Bodhisattva Head

Monumental Bodhisattva Head

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This head comes from a scupture that would have been more than twelve feet tall and likely stood along the perimeter of a Buddhist sacred area enclosing a stupa. By the fourth and fifth centuries monumental imagery became increasingly popular in Gandhara and was almost exclusively restricted to images of the Buddha. The bodhisattva’s turban and jewelry might indicate that he is a rare image of Shakyamuni prior to enlightenment. Alternatively, the bodhisattva may have attended the Buddha as part of a massive triad.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Monumental Bodhisattva HeadMonumental Bodhisattva HeadMonumental Bodhisattva HeadMonumental Bodhisattva HeadMonumental Bodhisattva Head

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.