Cleveland Museum of Art

Virupa

Date

early 1400s

Medium

Gilt bronze with silver, stones, and pigment

Culture

China, Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Yongle reign (1403-1424)

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Virupa is one of the great teachers in the history of tantric Buddhism. His posture references his ability to stop the sun; as an enlightened being, he can control phenomena of nature. As a tantric practitioner, he overturns ordinary assumptions about proper behavior, so he overeats, drinks large quantities of liquor, and waits for the king to pay his bill at the tavern. At the edge of the lotus pedestal is an inscription identifying the image as having been made in the imperial kilns of the third emperor of the Ming dynasty in China as a gift to a Tibetan monastic leader. While closely linked to Tibetan styles, the luxurious detailing, special gilding process, and the casting of the ornaments onto the body without use of inlay are specifically Chinese characteristics. Virupa's clothing and jewelry are embellished with silver and stones, while pigments enhance his hair and eyes.

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