12″ Japanese Sitting Buddha Statue

This beautiful statue of Buddha in meditation is a sure way to add a touch of calm to any space. Buddha is shown with his legs crossed and his hands in his lap in a traditional meditation posture. Note that while he is calm and relaxed, he is in no way slovenly. His back is perfectly straight and his simple robe is elegantly draped over his body so that it covers his left shoulder and cascades off of his right. The robe is a symbol of Buddha’s extreme humility and his lack of concern for wealth or ostentation. But he has not entirely given up on the material world. Just in front of him we see a fan spread. These fans were common among Oriental nobles and are sometimes known as “wishing fans.” When a peasant asked something of a noble, the noble would wave one of these fans to indicate that the wish would be granted. Shown here the fan indicates that even though he is deep in his own thoughts, the Buddha is always prepared to help others. Whether this help comes in the form of enlightenment or through more provincial aid is hard to say. Either way, this statue is a wonderful symbol of reflection, meditation, and inner peace tempered with a real concern for the needs and worries of others.