Maitreya leans on the mud of good karma

[Maitreya leans on sitting good karma mud]

Maitreya leans on sitting good karma mud, Tang Dynasty, 14 cm high, 10.5 cm wide, 1.5-2.8 cm thick
Shanye clay is made of black pottery, with a pointed arch niche, and its thickness is gradually thickened from top to bottom. Maitreya Buddha has a high bun with eyebrows and fine eyes, big ears drooping, and is wearing a right cassock. He leans on the waistband square seat with a trapezoidal chair back. He holds the meditation seal in both hands, and steps on the lotus seat with his feet. The Bodhisattva on the left and right flanks wears a trefoil crown on his head and a necklace. His hands are folded in front of his chest. The cloth is hanging around his shoulders in an “S” shape, and his skirt is close to his body. He stands on the lotus seat. Above the head of Maitreya Buddha is a canopy, with flowers and vines hanging on both sides of the canopy. Both Buddha and Bodhisattva lead the way. There is a boundary bar on the back of the good karma mud, which is printed with “The good karma mud of the Tang Dynasty is pressed like a wonderful color body” in 12 characters, three vertical columns and four columns
“Good karma” refers to the accumulation of good deeds by individuals. Buddhism believes that only by accumulating good karma can people get rid of evil, enter the right path, gain love, and reach Nirvana; “True as” means the true state and true nature of things, and is the absolute unchangeable “eternal truth” or noumenon; “Wonderful body” refers to various auspicious characteristics of Buddha. Therefore, this kind of suppressed Buddha is also called “good karma mud Buddha”. It is made by pressing the mixed clay on a wooden or copper mold, taking it out and drying it in the shade, and then firing it at low temperature. Shanye clay statue is generally small and easy to make. The Shanye clay Buddha in the Tang Dynasty is a form of Buddha made by the eminent monk Xuanzang in the capital of Chang’an, following the Indian practice after his return from India, by praying for Emperor Taizong and Empress Changsun of the Tang Dynasty. Its activities are mainly Cien Temple, Ximing Temple and Zhixiang Temple, which are strongly supported by Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty. In terms of space, this fashion is only popular in Chang’an and its surrounding areas, and there is no sign of good karma clay Buddha in Luoyang, the eastern capital not far from Chang’an; In terms of time, it mainly occurred in the years of Yonghui and Xianqing. After the death of Xuanzang, the production of the Buddhist statue of Shanye Mud suddenly fell from the peak to the bottom. In a sense, Xuanzang is both the originator and the terminator of the Buddhist statue of good deeds and mud. Xuanzang believed in Maitreya, and expected to lead the world to listen to Maitreya’s preaching after death. Maitreya on the mud of good karma may imply some connection.

弥勒倚坐善业泥背面