Chorten c. 13th century

brass

3d sculpting

3d model

brass

stone

sculpture

sculptural image

unrealistic statue

3d shape

3d modeling

structured

statue

This bronze "Chorten" from the 13th century is a miniature representation of a Buddhist stupa, a commemorative monument that holds relics. The stupa is a common motif in Buddhist art, and this example showcases the intricate details that characterize these structures. Its layered, conical form, topped by a finial featuring a crescent moon and two mythical nagas, is symbolic of the different stages on the path to enlightenment. This small-scale "Chorten" exemplifies the devotional nature of Buddhist art, offering a portable object of reverence for practitioners.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

⋮

This portable chorten (Tibetan for stupa, a domed structure that contains relics) can be understood as a three-dimensional mandala. The dome-shaped base derives from the hemispherical burial mounds erected over the relics of the Buddha. These architectural structures sprinkle the landscape of the Himalayas as representations of the Buddha, his teachings, and a microcosm of the universe. It is said the first mandala was created when devotees walked a pathway around the stupa, forming concentric circles along which they physically and mentally ascended toward the center— the cardinal axis representing enlightenment. On this shrine, which would have likely been donated to a monastery, the tower of discs represents the 13 stages of enlightenment in the Kadem Order of Tibetan Buddhism. The crescent moon and sun symbolize the dissolution of opposites, a critical aspect of wisdom.