This triad depicts the historical Buddha Sakyamuni preaching the first sermon in the forest retreat at Sarnath, flanked by Maitreya and Padmapani, the two premier bodhisattvas of the Licchavi period in Nepal. The Wheel of Law symbol (dharmachakra) flanked by a pair of kneeling deer makes this association explicit.
Details
- Title : Buddha Preaching the First Sermon Attended by Maitreya and Padmapani
- Artist : 8th–9th century
- Classification : Sculpture
- Medium : Stone
- Dimension : H. 4 5/8 in. (11.7 cm); Gr. W. 3 7/8 in. (9.8 cm); Th. 11/16 in. (1.7 cm); Wt. 1 lb (.5 kg)
- Accession No : 1989.294
- Country/ Geo-location : Nepal
- Period : Licchavi period
- Collection : The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Credit Line : Purchase, Rodolitz Associates Gift, 1989
- Acquisition Method : Acquired
- Status : On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 252
- Exhibition History : New York. Asia Society. "The Story of a Painting: The Korean Buddhist Treasure from the Burke Foundation," April 23, 1991–July 28, 1991.