Shan Burmese Finely Cast Bronze ‘Medicine’ Buddha

This Buddha from the Shan States of Eastern Burma has been cast in an unusually intricate and complex manner.

The image sits in dhyanasana with his left hand in meditation mudra, resting in his lap and holding a bowl filled with medicinal nectar and fruit. His right hand rests on his knee with palm facing outward in the mudra of granting blessings. The bitter, medicinal fruit of the myrobalan plant is held between the thumb and index finger.

Such a representation of the Buddha, sometimes known as the ‘medicine Buddha’ or Jambupati Buddha is uncommon in Burmese Buddhist iconography.

The image has been cast as a single piece with the elongated features often seen among Shan Buddha images. The head faces essentially forward but with a very slight downward tilt, the eyes are not fully open and depicted in a somehwat languid manner, the eyebrows are raised and align with the nose, which is prominent and flared. The lips have been cast in a slight smile. The ears are elongated – they are those of a prince – to the point that the lobes rest on the shoulders. The hairstyle is akin to neat rows of peppercorns. There are two prominent skin folds on the neck.

The image wears the simple robes of a monk, though with more folds and pleats than is usual. He sits on a high, tiered throne that is sharply waisted in the middle. Such thrones are characteristic of Burmese and Shan Buddha thrones. The elongated bud-like jewel to the top of the Buddha’s head is also peculiar to Burmese and Shan images and seems to have its origins in seventeenth century representations of the Buddha (Lowry, 1974).

There is a flattened cartouche at the back of the throne.

The image is in excellent condition and has an encrusted, varying surface consistent with good age.

It sits evenly, without rocking. It was acquired in the UK and no doubt arrived in the UK during the colonial era.