Ananda

Tang dynasty, 752 AD
Shanxi Museum

This statue of Shakyamuni's youngest disciple was collected from Foguang Temple on Mt. Wu Tai, the same location as the Northern Qi bodhisattva seen on an earlier page. Ananda is traditionally honored as the disciple who compiled the sutras, in which task he was aided by his flawless memory. His pose, as seen here, is usually interpreted as listening to the Buddha's discourse or mentally rehearsing what he has heard. As the Disciple of Wisdom, he is often paired in sculptural groups with Manjusri (the Bodhisattva of Wisdom). Similarly, on Buddha's other side, (Maha)Kasyapa, the Disciple of Action, is often paired with Samantabhadra, the Bodhisattva of Action.

The statue is made of white marble. A thin layer of paint, with darker horizontal bands, is visible on the outer robe.