Buddha

BobinSouthVA · Feb 21, 2011

Dug this Buddha today in middle of a corn field. I'm thinking it was a staging area for horses but not sure. found some other oddities I will post closeby but the area was devoid of junk. strange, but great...

he measures about 1.5 inches high. very heavy, lead possibly, but no rust on him. metallic, found with MD.

Leaf on the bottom with some possible writing that I cant make out.

Guess I'm just trying to date the little dude.

thanks for looking and hh

umrgolf · Feb 21, 2011

BobinSouthVA · Feb 21, 2011

looking at this again, I just noticed a 1 stamped next to the topmost leaf in the second picture, before the writing

BobinSouthVA · Mar 11, 2011

Ok I hate to bump my own topic, but today I found a Chinese Cash coin within about 5 feet of where I found Buddha dating to 1736-95. Could be just coincidence but I think I should have Buddha checked out with this new find.

So the new question, which I've been searching the web for, is there any expert in 18th century Chinese Buddhism that I could contact about this?

Thanks for looking and HH.

(to avoid double posting pics, here a a link to the coin)

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,388113.0.html

Breezie · Mar 11, 2011

I'm wondering if a soldier may have brought Buddha back after WWII? Also, the 2 leaves look as if they are making the letter "L," if so, the word could be LOTUS.
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/b_lotus.htm

Interesting find, Breezie

BobinSouthVA · Mar 11, 2011

very interesting observation Breezie, It could be Lotus.

Tony in SC · Mar 12, 2011

I think I remember an old post about having a ritual and burying one of these things to bring prosperity?? Tony

revravyid · Mar 12, 2011

Not to jump on the young lady from NC, but perhaps the "Lotus" being in english could give a clue. You may have found an old chinese dump or encampment. Have you found anything resembling a clay pipe? Keep searching...

Breezie · Mar 12, 2011

revravyid said:
Not to jump on the young lady from NC, but perhaps the "Lotus" being in english could give a clue. You may have found an old chinese dump or encampment. Have you found anything resembling a clay pipe? Keep searching...

Rev, the only word I saw in your post was 'young!'

Thank you for your compliment, which comes sincerely from a person with 2 grandchildren, one of which is half through the 1st grade! Mmm, that pic is 2 yrs. old, maybe it's time to change it. Actually the only reason I haven't changed it is for easier recognition. I personally use the pics to recognize the poster before even reading their name.

As far as the Buddha is concerned, it appears to be 'mammy made,' perhaps cast in sand or from a primitively made mold. All of the Buddhas I've seen had a more distinct and artistic face as well as features. I still think this Buddha was a result of WWII, whether it was brought back by a returning soldier; or made by the soldier, by the Japanese girl he brought back, or the memory of the girl he left overseas. Breezie

BobinSouthVA · Mar 12, 2011

Tony in SC said:
I think I remember an old post about having a ritual and burying one of these things to bring prosperity?? Tony

revravyid said:
Not to jump on the young lady from NC, but perhaps the "Lotus" being in english could give a clue. You may have found an old chinese dump or encampment. Have you found anything resembling a clay pipe? Keep searching...

Interesting Ideas, within a small area in the middle of the field I found this in, there have been other relics that I will post a little later on when I can get some time to take some pics.

Kenosha Kid · Mar 12, 2011

Tony in SC said:
I think I remember an old post about having a ritual and burying one of these things to bring prosperity?? Tony

http://www.smiling-buddhas.com/history.html

"The names Smiling, Fat, Laughing or Happy Buddha are just Western nomenclature for this figure. He is usually depicted with a bald head, wide smile, a huge exposed belly, and always carrying a bag.

Whatever the actual origins of the Happy Buddha, history records that his influence has been tremendous in Asia. Buddhism, Taoism and Zen Buddhism have all embraced the Happy Buddha as the embodiment of happiness and prosperity."

BobinSouthVA said:
very interesting observation Breezie, It could be Lotus.

According to another scholar, "in esoteric Buddhism, the heart of the beings is like an unopened lotus: when the virtues of the Buddha develop therein, the lotus blossoms; that is why the Buddha sits on a lotus bloom."

Many statues of Buddha are made sitting or standing on a lotus (a white lotus for mental and spiritual purity) and one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhist teaching. The color of the lotus has a different meaning for each color.

http://buddhism.about.com/b/2008/02/27/buddhist-symbols-the-lotus.htm

http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/symbols/eight_auspicious_symbols.htm

BobinSouthVA · Mar 15, 2011

well I got to cleaning this some more and getting a closer look. It turns out I don't think it says Lotus at all. From staight on it looks like a T, but from an angle the top part of the T dissapears and I think it's just a scratch.

Taken from an angle, the words look like CHIN possibly CHINA

so Made in China :laughing9: