Bronze statue of the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Bodhisattva

Bronze statue of the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Bodhisattva

The bronze statue of the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Bodhisattva is located east of Dajing Village in Fengtai District. It is the largest and most exquisitely crafted surviving bronze Bodhisattva sculpture in Beijing. The site of the Wanfo Yanshou Temple is also situated east of Dajing Village in Fengtai District. According to the surviving "Pagoda Stele Inscription," the Wanfo Yanshou Temple was built in the first year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty. The temple itself has long since collapsed, but the Bodhisattva statue is situated on the ruined foundation of the Mahavira Hall’s rear hall, known as the Great Compassion Pavilion. Measuring 8 meters in height from the base of the lotus pedestal, the statue features an ornate crown adorned with three female facial busts — round yet slightly slender in shape, with serene and dignified expressions. Originally, the statue had 24 arms on either side, most of which are now missing. The four remaining arms are in various poses, showcasing the delicate flexibility of the fingers. The figure wears a short tunic and a long skirt, with flowing ribbons hanging down both sides. The entire statue is decorated with jewelry and engravings, while the robes are adorned with engraved patterns of lotus flowers and scrolling vines. The Bodhisattva stands atop a lotus pedestal, the front of which features a bas-relief of two dragons soaring through clouds. The bronze statue was cast in three sections and then carved and finished.