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The Buddhist deity Chunda in her sixteen-armed form

approx. 800-1000

Asian Art Museum

Asian Art Museum
San Francisco, United States

Buddhism flourished in Central Java from the late 700s to the early 900s. This period was marked by the construction of dozens of small temples as well as elaborate world-famous monuments like Borobodur. During this era bronze images of Buddhas and bodhisattvas were produced in great numbers.

Here Chunda, a Buddhist goddess of wisdom, sits with two of her hands in the gesture of turning the wheel of the Buddha's doctrine, while her fourteen other hands hold many of her characteristic symbolic implements, including an axe, a discus, a conch, a water vessel, and a palm-leaf book. Multi-armed deities like this one indicate the popularity of esoteric Buddhism in Indonesia from the late 800s.

Details

  • Title: The Buddhist deity Chunda in her sixteen-armed form
  • Date Created: approx. 800-1000
  • Location Created: Indonesia; Central Java
  • Physical Dimensions: H. 22.5 cm x W. 14 cm x D. 9.2 cm
  • Type: Sculpture
  • Medium: Bronze
  • Credit Line: Gift of Dr. and Mrs. David Buchanan, 2006.48.a-.c

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