Copper Buddha statues
1 min readThe earliest metal sculptures with written records and clear dating in Tibet is the 12-year-old Shakyamuni statue now enshrined in Jokhang Temple. In 641, Songtsen Gampo, Tubo’s Tsenpo, married Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty, and the Princess took the 12-year-old Shakyamuni statue to Tibet. This statue is called “Jobo-Sakyamuni”by Tibetan people, and it is incomparably special because it is bestowed spirituality by Sakya Buddha in person. Due to its illustrious background,”Jobo-Sakyamuni”was first enshrined in India for 1,000 years, and then introduced to the Tang Dynasty for consecration. Since it was transferred to Tibet by the Princess, it survived numerous disasters and sufferings.
Therefore, it occupies a supreme place in the history of Buddhism as well as the history of art.
Existing metal sculptures from the Tubo period are very rare. The Potala Palace Annals records that “All the Buddha figures enshrined here are cast from the bell metal, so it was named ‘ Copper Buddhist Hall”. There is an alloy copper cast Sakyamuni statue, an East Indian bell metal Sakyamuni statue, and a copper Amitabha Buddha statue from the era ofSongtsen Gampo, the Tibetan King. In addition, there are about 800 bell metal statues and alloy copper statues from East India, Central India, Kashmir, Nepal and other places. The Tibetan people believe that the ancient bell metal Buddha statues are even more precious than the pure gold ones.”
