About this objectThis head of this Avalokiteśvara in the Sainsbury Collection wears a three-pronged crown similar to that seen on the pensive bodhisattva from Japan and on other Japanese bodhisattva figures, such as that of the Avalokiteśvara statue, also exhibited in the Pensive Bodhisattvas story. The central part of the crown is an image of Amitabha, the buddha of eternal light and spiritual mentor of Avalokiteśvara.
Date Made7th-8th century
PeriodAsuka
Place MadeJapan
Subject and Association KeywordsArrivals
Subject and Association KeywordsTravelling bodhisattvas
Subject and Association DescriptionLearn More: Frédéric 1995; Kitagawa and Cummings 1979.
