The Shan people are a distinct ethnic
group that today constitute Myanmar’s
largest minority group. However, from
the 13th until the 16th Century, they
dominated most of the country. They are
largely Buddhist, and their language and
customs are closely related to the Thai
and Laotians their neighbors to the
south and east. In the 19th Century,
long after their power had eroded, they
were distributed among thirty petty
states that paid tribute first to the
Burman King, then to the British. This
arrangement remained more or less in
tact until 1922 when the Federated Shan
States were joined together. In 1947, a
unified Shan States was created under
the Burmese Constitution. Although much
of their autonomy has been relinquished
to the central government, the Shan
retain their unique cultural identity
and ethnic heritage.
This gorgeous marble Buddha is seated in
the dhyanasana position on a raised base
decorated with stylized lotus petals.
With his hands, the Buddha forms the
bhumisparsa mudra, which can be
literally translated as the “gesture of
touching the earth” in which the Buddha
touches the ground in order to call on
the earth to witness his enlightenment.
His monastic robes are indicated by
delicately incised lines that delineate
the borders of the fabric. Calm and
serene, he looks downwards with half
closed eyes. His pupils have been
painted in and some other remnants of
the original polychrome that once
decorated the work still survive. An
ushnisha crowns his head, the shape of
which recalls Burmese pagodas, the main
houses of Buddhist worship. This bump
is symbolic of the Buddha’s enlightened
wisdom and cosmic openness. This marble
sculpture is a splendid example of the
Shan style that captures the Buddha in
all his meditative glory.
- (X.0227)
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