Jowo Rinpoche, Jokhang Temple, Tibet

 There are many versions of the Buddha Shakyamuni (https://smarthistory.org/jowo-rinpoche-jokhang-temple-tibet/)image around the world that can be made out of precious metals, carved out of wood or painted.  For instance, the Emerald Buddha in Thailand is made out of jade, the Seiryoji Buddha in Japan is carved out of wood and the Jowo Rinpoche in Tibet is made out of gilded metal. The Jowo Rinpoche is considered to be one of the most holy statues in Tibet, it  means “precious one” in Tibetan. This extravagant sculpture has Buddha sitting in the lotus position and covered with semiprecious stones, pearls, and paint. One unique feature is his electric blue hair.  In its 1300 year history, it has been restored and reconstructed, so it is unknown what the original image might have looked like when it was made around the 7th century. The earliest written description of this statute around the 11th century has the wrathful deity is seen protruding from the Buddha’s neck, no such deity can be seen today. In a Text written around the same time, Vase-Shaped Pillar Testament, suggested that the Jowo Shakyamuni was sculpted from a life portrait of the Buddha. It is believed that the sculpture was part of a marriage-dowry brought to Tibet by a Chinese Princess around the 7th century which also congruent with the birth of Buddhism in Tibet. This amazing sculpture might have been altered over the years  but it still holds so much religious and cultural importance.

Jowo Shakyamuni, Jokhang Temple, Lhasa, Tibet, Yarlung Dynasty, brought to Tibet in 641(?), gilt metals with semiprecious stones, pearls, and paint and various offerings (photo: ziyi xu, CC BY-SA 2.0)