PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Asia

Vairocana is a celestial buddha who is often interpreted, in texts like the Flower Garland Sutra, as the Dharma Body of the historical Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama). In Chinese, Korean, and Japanese Buddhism, Vairocana is also seen as the embodiment of the Buddhist concept of Emptiness. In the conception of the Five Wisdom Buddhas of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, Vairocana is at the centre and is considered a Primordial Buddha.Vairocana is one of the Five Dhyani Buddhas which represent the five qualities of the Buddha. His symbol is the wheel, displayed in the hand gesture of the present lot, which symbolizes the Buddha's teachings. He represents the wisdom of the Buddha and is therefore also portrayed with his hands in the vajramudra with the index finger of the left hand clasped by the five fingers of the right, in a gesture called the wisdom fist. In esoteric Buddhism, these five Buddhas are often portrayed wearing elaborate crowns and jewelry.

The cast majestically seated in dhyanasana with hands held at chest level in uttrabodhimudra, wearing loose robes with dense floralscroll borders, the exposed chest above the sash-tied antaravasaka, an elaborate jeweled necklace adorning the chest, the regal face with crisply cast downcast eyes and gentle smile flanked by pendulous ears, the hair pulled up into a tall chignon.