Votive Plaque

Votive plaque made of baked clay embossed with the image of Buddha seated in a “vajrasâna” pose with hands in “bhumisparsha mudra”. These figures are associated with the Bodhi tree, beneath which Enlightenment is reached, which is represented here by several branches. Around the central figure, there is a series of images pertaining to the life of Buddha, such as his birth, preaching his first sermon, and his death. In the bottom part of the piece, there is a row of characters that describe the Buddhist belief.
These kinds of plaques, with scenes relating to the Buddha's life, were used as offerings by devout Buddhists who left them outside “stupas,” temples, and other sacred Buddhist sites. They could also be taken into houses and placed on domestic mantelpieces.
It seems that these plaques were originally created in Bodhgaya (India), where the Bodhi Tree is found, and from there its creation spread to other territories. The themes of the plaques relate to the life of the historic Buddha Gautama.
This piece is part of a donation from Don Argimiro Santos Munsuri to the Spanish State, housed in the Museo Nacional de Antropología.