Sacred Relic from a Burmese Pagoda – Naga King Protecting the Buddha Statue, 18th-19th Century

The Naga King Protecting the Buddha Statue A Buddha statue unearthed from a collapsed pagoda in the Mandalay region of Myanmar. Depicts the Naga King Mucalinda protecting the Buddha. Naga – King Mucalinda, the protector of the Buddha. According to Chapter 31 of the "Abhidharma Sutra of the Buddha's Life" (佛本行集經): After rising from beneath the Bodhi tree, the Buddha sat beneath a tree by the Mucalinda Lake, meditating. For seven days, heavy rain poured incessantly. King Mucalinda emerged, coiled himself around the Buddha seven times, and sheltered the Buddha's head with his hood, protecting the Buddha from all disturbances. Estimated to be from the 18th-19th century (antiques dealers who brought it to Taiwan believe it to be even older...). Having handled antiques for many years, it's prudent to conservatively estimate a slightly older period. However, recent research by mainland scholars on the bronze composition of Burmese weights has been consulted. Weights from the 16th to 17th centuries were made of bronze with a high copper content, resulting in a pale red hue. From the late 17th to the 18th century, weights were made of bronze with a high tin content, appearing silvery-white. Bronze weights from the late 18th to the latter half of the 19th century exhibit a pale yellow color. Weights from the late 19th to the early 20th century were made of brass. This Naga King Buddha statue, after cleaning, reveals a reddish bronze. Based on the color analysis of Burmese weights by mainland scholars, this suggests the Buddha statue may date from the 16th-17th century. The seal at the base of the statue is intact. Bronze alloy Height: 20 cm. Base width: 7.6 cm. The exterior has undergone 3 cleaning processes. The first cleaning was done locally upon its discovery in the pagoda, removing most of the hard, cement-like adhering soil. Two subsequent cleanings were performed after its arrival in Taiwan, removing the majority of green patina and oxidation. ************************* Myanmar is a country with strict regulations on exporting cultural artifacts, prohibiting the removal of antiques and relics from the country. This includes Buddha statues and metal amulets like the Darong prayer beads, which are not permitted to leave the country. 28000-113.08.06