QING DYNASTY (1644-1911)

The serene facial expressions and the elaborately carved details shown on present three Buddhist figures showcase the fine craftsmanship that can be found on Buddhist representations from Qing-dynasty China (1644-1911). The Buddha at the center is likely flanked by his two luohan disciples, Ananda and Kasyapa. Ananda was the Buddha’s first cousin and is typically portrayed as a young man, while Kasyapa was often depicted as an elderly monk because he was in his eighties when he first encountered Buddha. Images of these disciples can be found flanking images of Buddha or Guanyin. For an example of such a pairing, see Gems of Beijing Cultural Relics Series - Buddhist Statues I, Beijing, 2001, p. 86, pl. 46.