Lacquered Sculpture of Dức Chúa Ông (Lord He). Vietnam, 19th Century

Dức Chúa Ông also says Lord He was an extremely wealthy merchant in Kosala, one of the kingdoms of ancient India, and a lay disciple of Buddha Shakyamuni. His real name is Tu Dat (Sudatta), he is famous for having helped the poor, the lonely, the sick and the homeless, which earned him the nickname of Anathapindika (who provide for the isolated, the poor).

Dức Chúa Ông is considered the greatest and most generous benefactor of all time. He never refused an offer of alms, never refused any service. According to the Buddhist scriptures, he is reborn in the celestial kingdom after his death.

His wooden sculpture is lacquered in cinnabar red. Remembrance of a very ancient practice in sculpture (both Asian and European), the eyes of Dức Chúa Ông are made of stones which gives his gaze a remarkable depth. Lord He’s right hand is in the position of vitarka-mudrā, the gesture of argument, explanation and law. This gesture echoes a famous passage from Lord He’s biography in which he converts a prince to Buddhism.

The moustache is horsehair while the hairstyle and garment are beautifully sculpted and accented with gold. One finds the classic motifs of Vietnamese art: dragon and ruyi. This large sculpture in very good condition probably comes from a private altar judging by its size and the arrangement at the back of the sculpture which surely allowed it to be held along a paneling.

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