Late 18th century, Qianlong period, Qing Dynasty. A gilt bronze figure of Bodhidharma (Damo), who brought Chan (Zen) Buddhism to China, where he sat meditating in a cave for nine years until his limbs atrophied. To avoid falling asleep while meditating, it is said he cut off his eyelids. Here he is shown wide-eyed with a serene downcast face covered in robe decorated with crane roundels, clouds, and floral motifs. An inscription to the base states this statue was made during the Qianlong period of the Qing dynasty and was collected at Rehe Xingong, the Imperial Qing Mountain Resort in Chengde, Hebei. Approx. 6 by 6 in., 15.3 by 15.3 cm.

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