弥勒菩薩半跏思惟像 / Maitreya Bodhisattva in Half-Lotus Contemplating Pose

▽ Stone Material
Korean Stone

▽ Size
35mm square

▽ About this Artwork
When stamped, it is carved to evoke the image of the Maitreya Bodhisattva in a half-lotus contemplating pose at Chugu-ji Temple.

▽ Maitreya Bodhisattva in Half-Lotus Contemplating Pose
Maitreya Bodhisattva is the future Buddha who appears after Shakyamuni Buddha, revered as a Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism. The pose involves bending the right leg and placing it on the left knee, known as "half-lotus," with the right hand resting on the cheek in a contemplative gesture ("shuyui").

▽ About the Production
I carved the Bodhisattva image that I find most beautiful. In contemporary Japan, the pose with the bent right leg and the left knee as a support is considered indecent and inappropriate. However, the Maitreya Bodhisattva in a half-lotus contemplating pose exudes a noble and venerable beauty, transcending any sense of impropriety. I carved it to bring forth such a dignified presence.