JBAE - Japanese Buddhist Art in European Collections

ISO	NLD	Object type	Sculpture	Museum	Ger Eenens Collection The Netherlands
Object title	Idol Statue (Tanjobutsu)	Ownership current status	Ger Eenens Collection Netherlands
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Collection registration number 2
Collection registration number 3
Size height (mm)	2000
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05	04	03	02	01

10	09	08	07	06

15	14	13	12	11

20	19	18	17	16

25	24	23	22	21

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Description

This rare bronze figure is representing a free standing image of the infant Sakyamuni (Tanjobutsu in Japanese) just after his miraculous Birth.
The sutra Kako-genzai-inga-kyo (Sutra of Cause and Effect, Past and Present) which contains a biography of Sakyamuni, describes Siddharta’s Birth as follows: The birth occurred on the eight day of April. The newly-born Sakyamuni took seven steps unaided, raised his right arm and majestically intoned; “I alone am honoured in heaven and on earth. This triple world is full of suffering. I will be the saviour from these sufferings.”
Several sutras describe Sakyamuni as assuming this stance at the moment when he first spoke, after taking seven steps. The Tanjobutsu (infant Sakyamuni) is very popular in Japan, where on the day April 8th of each year it is used for ceremonies.

Although depicted as an infant, this image already displays the distinguished sign of Buddhahood: the golden urna on his forehead. (sign of great being and illumination). His left hand is raised with the index finger and the middle finger pointing to the sky, as the right hand with the index finger and the right middle finger points towards the earth. The child stands facing the spectator on a open folded lotus flower. He wears a simple loincloth and a ling scarf which is carefully detailed, shown wrapping around his waist and then hanging down in front of his left shoulder. His torso is long, his legs short, and the entire body is of a rounded and smooth volume.

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Material and technique

Bronze cast by lost wax method

Quantity	Designation
Fittings and accessories
Conditionminor dents and abrasions
Acquisition name
Date of entry into collection
Acquisition backgroundBefore 2012: Private Collection in France Since 2012: Ger Eenens Collection Netherlands
Ownership, current statusGer Eenens Collection Netherlands

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Reference material
Reference pictures
Past exhibitions	Permament Collection Wereldmuseum Rotterdam since 2012 "Buddha's Life, Past to the Present", Die Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam, September 2018 - February 2019 (special exhibition)
Exhibition catalogue	The Light of Buddha Part I, Wereldmuseum Rotterdam, June 2015, p. 27
Catalogue pictures	p. 27
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Japanese Buddhist Art in European Collections

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