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HOME :
Asian Art :
Art of Tibet : Sino-Tibetan Figure of Jambhala (Kubera), God of Wealth
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Sino-Tibetan Figure of Jambhala (Kubera), God of Wealth - PH.0178
Origin: China/Tibet
Circa: 17
th
Century AD
to 19
th
Century AD
Collection: Asian art
Style: Sino-Tibetan Style
Medium: Metal Gilt
Location: Great Britain
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| Description |
This Sino-Tibetan figure depicts
Jambhala, the Buddhist deity who is
associated with wealth. In Tibetan
Buddhism, Jambhala is the god of
riches and the guardian of the
northern direction. He is a deity of
material and spiritual wealth as well
as many other things, especially of
granting financial stability. Jambhala
is the Buddhist equivalent of Kubera,
the ancient nature spirit (yaksha)
absorbed in early Hinduism as the
protector of jewels and other
treasures, and Vaisravana, the
guardian of the North in Buddhism. He
is a popular deity not only in India
but also in Nepal and Tibet.
This statuette is a beautiful example
of the Sino-Tibetan tradition of
Buddhist statuary. Situated at the
crossroads of present-day India, Nepal
and China, the Tibetan Buddhist deity
incorporates elements from the
different cultures while retaining a
distinct Tibetan style. In this
statuette, Jambhala has silvery skin
and sits in the pose of royal ease. He
wears the Bodhisattva ornaments such
as the decorated crown, beads
necklaces and draped shawl. He also
wears a snake necklace on his body.
Jambhala holds a mongoose named
Nehulay spits out precious jewels in
his left hand and a fruit (or a
flaming wish-fulfilling jewel) in his
right hand. The Jambhala’s right leg
is resting on an extension of the
lotus flower pedestal. This extension
appears to be a distinct petal of the
lotus flower and supports the deity’s
foot with ease. The lotus flower base,
commonly seen in Sino-Tibetan
sculpture, is surrounded by beaded
edge.
(Reference : Anne R. Bromberg. The
Arts of India, South East Asia, and
the Himalayas. Dallas: Dallas Museum
of Art; New Haven: Yale University
Press, 2013. 69-70.)
- (PH.0178)
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