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Sacred Art & Iconography

Birth of the Buddha Shakyamuni (Gandhara, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1987.417.1)

Buddhist Art

A stone relief from ancient Gandhara, present-day Pakistan, Kushan period, circa 2nd century, showing the birth of Siddhartha Gautama. Maya is shown standing and grasping the branch of a tree, the traditional Gandharan composition for this scene, with the newborn emerging from her side at Lumbini. Held today by the Metropolitan Museum of Art under accession 1987.417.1, gift of Steven Kossak, The Kronos Collections, 1987.

Facts
Subject Matter
Devotional Function
Reliefs of the Buddha's birth in this Gandharan style were typically carved as one scene in a longer narrative sequence set into a stupa's drum or stairway, meant to be viewed in order by pilgrims walking the circumambulation path around the monument, so that this single panel originally functioned as one station in a continuous visual telling of the Buddha's life rather than as a standalone devotional image. 1
Physical Form
Medium
Stone relief, Gandhara, Kushan period, circa 2nd century, Metropolitan Museum of Art 1987.417.1 1
Classification
Object Type
Sculpture or Statuary 1
Medium (class)
Sculpture 1
Connections

Associated With

Lumbini, Sacred Sites

This source names Lumbini directly: "the newborn emerging from her side at Lumbini."

Source Birth of the Buddha Shakyamuni, accession 1987.417.1 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Pakistan, Countries

This source names Pakistan directly: "from ancient Gandhara, present-day Pakistan, Kushan period, circa 2nd century, showing the birth of Siddhartha Gautama."

Source Birth of the Buddha Shakyamuni, accession 1987.417.1 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Siddhartha Gautama, Figures

This source names Siddhartha Gautama directly: "2nd century, showing the birth of Siddhartha Gautama."

Source Birth of the Buddha Shakyamuni, accession 1987.417.1 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Belongs to Tradition

Buddhism, Religions
Source Birth of the Buddha Shakyamuni, accession 1987.417.1 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Depicts

Maya, Figures

The relief's directly named subject per the museum's own title, following the standard Gandharan composition for Maya's birth-giving at Lumbini, matching the corroborating Wikipedia record's account of that same scene.

Source Birth of the Buddha Shakyamuni, accession 1987.417.1 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Additional Source Maya, Mother of the Buddha (Wikipedia)

Originated In

Pakistan, Countries
Source The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Birth of the Buddha Shakyamuni
Sources
1. Birth of the Buddha Shakyamuni, accession 1987.417.1 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Metropolitan Museum of Artcatalogue record, medium/object-type description
Quote, catalogue record, medium/object-type description
A stone relief from ancient Gandhara, present-day Pakistan, Kushan period, circa 2nd century, showing the birth of Siddhartha Gautama.
View the Source
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Birth of the Buddha Shakyamuni
The Metropolitan Museum of ArtOriginated In: Pakistan, Collection record (open API), culture field
Quote, Originated In: Pakistan, Collection record (open API), culture field
"culture": "Pakistan (ancient region of Gandhara)"
View the Source
Maya, Mother of the Buddha (Wikipedia)
WikipediaDepicts: Maya
Quote, Depicts: Maya
Maya Devi was delighted by the park and gave birth standing while holding onto a sal branch. Legend has it that Prince Siddhartha emerged from her right side.
View the Source
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