Head of the Buddha

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This head is from a life-sized Buddha Shakyamuni image. It may date from the end of the Sailendra dynasty, which ruled Java between AD 760 and 830. The Sailendra rulers were strong supporters of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism and erected many Buddhist monuments in central Java, including Borobodur. The Sailendra dynasty, which ruled central Java from 760 until 800, was responsible for establishing Mahayana Buddhism in the region and for constructing a series of remarkable Buddhist monuments. The most spectacular of these was Borobudor, designed as a three-dimensional mandala (cosmological diagram). This and other monuments in the region were richly decorated with narrative reliefs and free-standing sculptures. This head is probably from a large scale seated Buddha image in this region. Early in the 9th century the Sailendras were displaced by the Sanjaya dynasty who, whilst allowing Buddhism to continue to flourish, instigated a Hindu renaissance symbolised by the construction of the great temple complex at Prambanan. The region fell into neglect with the move of the ruling houses to east Java in the 10th century. Central Java, IndonesiaStone Museum no.IS.38-1988