2-723-924 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Bodhisattva, 700s. The bodhisattva is an enlightened being dedicated to the spiritual awakening of all beings. This white-marble torso exemplifies the quest for refinement and plasticity of form that mark the golden era of Tang Chinese Buddhist sculpture. The statue was conceived with great power and grandeur. The richly sensuous body leans forward; the slight sway of the hip on one side and upraised shoulder on the other result in an elegant S-curve. Emphatic lines cut into the stone create a sense of rhythm and reveal the sculptor’s skill and sureness of execution.