The Enlightened One, Lord of Shakya Clan, Shakyamuni Buddha

The sculpture to the left portrays the Buddha in the form commonly referred to as the historical Buddha. In this human form, Buddha Shakyamuni is understood to have lived on Earth and died. This Manifestation Body (nirmanakaya) is a physical body that takes birth in response to the needs of living beings as a result of the Buddha’s compassion, in this case appearing in human form that is perceptible to ordinary beings in order to teach them.