Item: Shakyamuni Buddha

Shakyamuni Buddha in a standing posture following the legend of the image said to be produced by King Udrayana during the life-time of the historical Buddha.

In the 19th and early 20th century there was a famous Sandalwood Buddha installed in a temple in Beijing. That same sculpture was also believed to be the very sculpture produced at the time of the first painting of the Buddha. The Beijing sculpture disappeared during the upheavals at the beginning of the 20th century. It is said by some that it was removed from Beijing and taken to Buryat in Siberia, modern day Russia, for safe keeping. The location in Buryat is the Egetui Buddhist Monastery. This sandalwood statue in Buryat is also considered one of the treasures of the Buddhist community.

Jeff Watt 8-2010