Book cover, wood

Museum number:
9-22072
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21090022072
Alternate number:
BY.T-187 and T-187 (original number)
Description:
This is a wooden book cover for a Buddhist text. There are three figures carved into wood, surrounded by a border and a background of many small figures of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Lamas. These appear to be the "Three Times Buddhas". Left to right they are: Shakyamuni (present), Maitreya (future), and Dipankara (past). The identification of these Buddhas is fairly certain, but lack or loss of detail in the carving introduces some doubt. These three Buddhas are pictured here on their thrones of highest Enlightenment, surrounded by the auspicious beings are symbols associated with the attainment of perfect Buddhahood. Compare this to T-157, which has the same three Buddhas in a different order. (See also: T-121. T-155, T-156, etc.)
Collection place:
Tibet
Verbatim coll. place:
Tibet
Collector:
Theos C. Bernard
Materials:
Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Carvings (visual works)
Function:
7.0 Use not specified (Communication, Records, Currency, and Measures)
Production date:
18th-19th century
Department:
Asia (except western Russia)
Images:
Hearst Museum object 1 of 2 titled Book cover, wood, accession number 9-22072, described as This is a wooden book cover for a Buddhist text. There are three figures carved into wood, surrounded by a border and a background of many small figures of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Lamas. These appear to be the "Three Times Buddhas". Left to right they are: Shakyamuni (present), Maitreya (future), and Dipankara (past). The identification of these Buddhas is fairly certain, but lack or loss of detail in the carving introduces some doubt. These three Buddhas are pictured here on their thrones of highest Enlightenment, surrounded by the auspicious beings are symbols associated with the attainment of perfect Buddhahood. Compare this to T-157, which has the same three Buddhas in a different order. (See also: T-121. T-155, T-156, etc.)Hearst Museum object 2 of 2 titled Book cover, wood, accession number 9-22072, described as This is a wooden book cover for a Buddhist text. There are three figures carved into wood, surrounded by a border and a background of many small figures of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Lamas. These appear to be the "Three Times Buddhas". Left to right they are: Shakyamuni (present), Maitreya (future), and Dipankara (past). The identification of these Buddhas is fairly certain, but lack or loss of detail in the carving introduces some doubt. These three Buddhas are pictured here on their thrones of highest Enlightenment, surrounded by the auspicious beings are symbols associated with the attainment of perfect Buddhahood. Compare this to T-157, which has the same three Buddhas in a different order. (See also: T-121. T-155, T-156, etc.)

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