Buddhism
Slide #2
Head of Buddha
Thai, 15th c.
gilt bronze, 38 ¼ x 16 3/8 x 17 5/8 in.
There are differing
accounts as to the
covering of the
Buddha’s head. In
India, tradition says that
when the Buddha
shaved his head as a sign
of his renunciation, the
hair grew back in tight
curls.
The Pali Canon lists 32
auspicious signs of the
Buddha. Several can be
seen in this piece.
In Japan, the story says
that while he was seated
in meditation, the sun
beat down upon his
shaved head. First the
fish and then frogs tried
to offer him covering
from the sun. They
could not. But snails
came and lined up on
his head to keep it
covered from the sun
during the day and the
cold at night.
Golden Skin
The Flame: his
enlightenment
The bulge on his head: a
sign of extra knowledge
Large ears: a sign of his
listening well to the
concerns of life
Long earlobes: a sign of his
royal lineage.
A Parrot nose
A chin like a lime
The Buddha’s eyes are not closed. He is aware of
his surroundings. The general expression on his
face is one of kindness and compassion.
This head of the Buddha was originally part of a large seated or walking Buddha. Thai artists pay close
attention to human proportion, which helps to explain the realistic and lively appearance of this piece.
When the Buddha is represented in his human body, he is depicted carefully, with attention paid to the
auspicious signs listed in the Pali Canon, but also with an eye to showing that he was not a god, but a man.
The Buddha is also represented symbolically, by an eight-spoken wheel in some art objects. Many of
the same attributes surround the wheel as surround the image of the man. He is often seen with lotus
flowers nearby. His followers are often in attendance, particularly in relief sculptures.
How does the artist convey the Buddha’s compassion in this piece? Carefully consider the facial
expression of the Buddha? What might such an image suggest about the nature of meditation?
© 2002 Ackland Art Museum The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Five Faiths Curricular Resource
TEST COPY - Buddhism Slide 2