Buddha Giving the First Sermon (Dharmachakrapravartanamudra)
Pala period, late 10th/early 11th century
Medium
Black stone
Dimensions
62.3 × 39 × 15.6 cm (24 1/2 × 15 5/16 × 6 1/8 in.)
Classification
stone (unidentified)
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
148396
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This sculpture presents the historical Buddha Shakyamuni delivering his first sermon at the Deer Park in Sarnath, India, where he articulated his realization of the Four Noble Truths to the five ascetics who would become his first disciples. This episode, considered one of the Eight Great Events of the Buddha’s life, is iconographically indicated by his didactic hand gesture of dharmachakramudra, whereby the Buddha sets the chakra (wheel) of dharma (law) in motion. The two deer flanking a chakra...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...