The document provides an in-depth analysis of a 18th century artwork called "Buddhist Demoness (Dakini)" made of silver, gilt silver, and gilt copper alloy. It analyzes the artwork from bottom to top, describing symbols like beads, leaves, cowry shells and more that represent Buddhist themes. It examines the Dakini figure's posture, jewelry, skirt pattern, and face which depict characteristics of Buddha like pride and attainment. Overall, the artwork demonstrates Buddha's principles of overcoming desire and ego to achieve enlightenment.

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Amanda J.M. Hardcastle
Professor Curtis Hansman
HAA 115: Principles of Asian Art
10/11/10
Buddha: A Historical Figure Transformed
Buddha was once a simple man whom purely wanted to become enlightened which
caused him to become an icon throughout the centuries. I will be analyzing and describing
“Buddhist Demoness (Dakini) “from the 18th century. It is made out of silver, gilt silver,
and gilt copper alloy. The art peace is located the Art Institute in Chicago in the James W. and
Marilynn Alsdorf collection, 34.1983. I will be analyzing the artwork from top to bottom to
completely show that the Buddhist themes are being portrayed.
The bottom is in the shape of a circle. The circle represents the wheel, which is a symbol
of Buddha. There are four rings of patterns around the base of the artwork. Working from top to
bottom, the first ring seems to be very tiny beads. Making such tiny beads is a very long and
tenuous process. Beads might represent abundance or lucritiveness. The second circle is made
out of leaves with similar shapes and patterns. These leaves might have come from the boldi tree
where Buddha achieved his enlightenment. The leaves have very deep lines in them, which
further emphasizes the leaves. The artist might have done this to show the importance of the
leaves and the themes that relate to the leaves. The third ring is a circle of what seems to be
cowry shells. Cowry shells were used as currency in ancient china. Cowry shells represent
abundance and high status in many cultures. Cowry shells were also put into the tomb of Lady
Hao, from the Shang dynasty in 1800-1100 BCE. Cowry shells also have a very spiritual and
religious meaning. They might represent Buddha’s four noble truths and eight -fold path to a

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greater spirituality. The Cowry shell also resembles the woman’s pregnant abdomen and sexual
organs, which emphasizes the importance and power of a woman ii. Then the figure flourishes
into a plate like shape to set the stage for displaying the dakini. The stage sinks in the middle.
The sinking could possibly represent the dakini walking on water or balance on a similar surface
that is tricky to walk on. The can be compared to Buddha’s trick path to the great final
enlightenment.
The dakini’s posture is very playful, with playful foot placement as well. The dakini is
also wearing ankle bracelets on both ankles. Usually Buddha did not wear jewelry. This can be
proven by comparing to the Standing Buddha from Mathura. Gupta, late 4th-5th century (Craven
111). However, sometimes artist that wanted to portray Buddha as a king sculpted him this way
such as Crowned Buddha surrounded by the eight great events of his life, from Bengal or Bihar.
The shackles in the artwork might represent a prisoner of desire. Buddha denied this personality
of succumbing to desire to reach enlightenment. The Dakini’s knees are both bent. The right
knee of the figure is slightly bent, while the other knee is very bent. It almost seems as if this
dakini might have been dancing, which is usually the form of dakini’s. The word dakini is
actually translated as women who dance in the sky or interpretable as women who revel in the
freedom of emptinessi. This is the reason why the bodies of the dakini’s have sensuous curves
and are usually in dance posses. Most figures in Buddhism are males with a calm and serene
tone, but they show their appreciation for female imagery in dakinis and yoginis.
This particular dakini is holding a necklace in one hand and a bird in the other. Although
most dakinis have a skull in one hand filled with menstrual blood or the elixir of life and a
curved knife in the other hand. The menstrual blood is significant because it is said that her
monthly cycle of periods rejuvenates a woman. This is why dakini’s usually hold the cup of

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blood close to the face, with the intention of drinking it. Drinking this elixir represents the cycle
of birth and rebirth, which is Samsara. Buddha wanted to be reborn enlightened. With this being
said, it is certain that this dakini is more dedicated to showing the Buddha’s true form. The bird
represents Buddha love and appreciation of nature while the necklace in the other hand shows
that the hierarchy or natural and material items. The hand holding the necklace is almost dropped
to the floor while the other hand is elevating the bird. It shows that natural outranks jelwry,
which is a materialistic object. Buddha chose the path of nature rather than the path of desires.
The dakini is also wearing a skirt of a unique pattern. This pattern resembles leaves. The
skirt also has wheels and circle with the lotus flower located on them. The lotus flower is also a
symbol of the Buddha. The skirt has a golden copper color, which might represent Buddha as
royalty. Most dakinis have middle length or long skirts that resemble a diamond pattern. The
same shackle styles of bracelets are also located on the dakini’s wrists and upper arms. There are
also two items located on each side of the dakini. Both of these items are dark colored bronze
items. The object on the right side of the dakini is very long and slender with a slight curvature.
It might be a slanted blade of some sort. On the left side of the figure, there seems to be a small
and thick blade. As expressed before, dakini does usually hold a knife in one hand. These blades
are said to show its power and constructive force. Dakini's are not to be feared or submitted for.
They just need to be respected or understood in a sense. The dakini has a long trident leaning
against its shoulder. The trident has skulls on it as well and is gold and dark bronze with red
jewels. The red jewels might represent blood.
The Dakini also has a long gold garland that attaches to the shirt. The garland has a
pattern of circles and loops that do not cover much of the figures body. This particular also has a
long garland that goes over its neck to below its waist. This garland is made out of skulls. Most

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dakini’s wear this garland as well. I feel this necklace of skulls represent the souls that have been
lost in desire. The same desire that Buddha refused to overtake him. It also wears a gold chocker
necklace. Usually dakinis carry a tantric shaft as well to further their presence of power. This
shaft is also a symbol of masculinity.
The dakini’s face has many representations of the Buddha. It had big ears with oversized
ear lobes. It also has an urnisha on top of its head, made from gold and is in the shape of an
unknown object. The urnisha is the mark of the Buddha, which is a 3-dimensional oval at the top
of Buddha’s head and symbolizes his attainment of valiance in the spiritual guide. It bears the
mark of the Buddha, the urna. This mark means that the individual has a third eye . Unlike
Buddha, whom is usually serene and calm, this dakini seems to be sneering. Its nose is wrinkled
up and its eyebrows are raised, but it is holding its head up high. Buddha is usually depicted as
proud and holding his head up straight or high. Usually dakinis have long, wild hair and a
wrathful expression on its face. Most dakinis are usually depicted as standing dancing on top of
corpses as well. This posture, positioning, and symbols are said to mean that this represents the
dakinis mastery over ego and ignorance. These same characteristics of the dakini are already
mastered by Buddha..
The dakini is a form of iconography for Buddha. The Dakini has a combination of motifs
and is a conventional subject matter. It shows many intrinsic meanings for those who follow the
Buddhist way.iiFor example, some dakini have fire blazing behind them to block the enemies of
the Dharma. The dakini is realistic and is made in a human image. The dakinis represent freedom
from ignorance and ego. This seems to be enlightenment. Buddha denied himself of desire for 6
years so that he could be free from these things. Buddha wanted to obtain Atma which is the
universal spirit. He wanted to seclude himself to block himself of desires and enemies.

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The size of the work suggests that the artist wants the audience to pay attention to the
themes in the work, but not solely focused on iconography. Although the size of the work
suggests the work might be portable. The artists want you to gain understand and knowledge of
life and the Buddha. This Buddhist demoness demonstrates Buddha’s life and rebirth and
iconography. It demonstrates that Buddha tried to obtain the same principles as this certain
dakini. He went through Bodhisattva to suffer and obtain understanding and the ability to be one
with the universe. After enlightenment, Buddha became a teacher then achieved
Mahaparinirvana, which the great final enlightenment. He then became an icon for centuries to
come. He became a symbol or icon of perfection in Buddhist and Hindu form. He walked the
ideal path to righteousness.
The artwork was made from silver and copper alloy. According to Roy Craven’s “Indian
Art: A Concise History”, stone, rarely marble, basalt, silver and copper were used in sculpting in
the 18th century. Comparing this work to Vishnu attended by personification of his attributes,
from Bengal during the Pala period in 11th -12th century. Bronze inlaid with silver and brushed
with copper, from the Cleveland Museum of Art. The bronze and silver process is actually very
similar. Craven said,” the technique of bronze casting allowed more elaborate detailing, even on
a much reduced scale”(174-176). It was important for the artist to create lots of detail and color
by using gilt copper alloy.
The dakini is usually represents woman. The Buddhists and Hindu religion show an
underlying importance of women. Such as, In this case of this work I am not exactly sure if it is a
man or women but I am sure that it is a tribute to Buddha. It is also suppose to represent Mother
Nature and feminine spirituality. The dakini is supposed to remind people the masculine abilities
of the dakini. Strength and power is supposed to be masculine but a female possesses these

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qualities. The message is that nature is made up of feminine and masculine. The male and female
together complete the cycle of life. The idea of pantheism greatly contributes to this message.
The religious position is that “God is everything and everything is God”. Buddha contained both
masculine and feminine qualities that brought him to enlightenment.
Works cited

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i
Kumar, Nitin. "Dance of the Yogini: Images of Aggression in Tantric Buddhism." Indian Art: Exotic India. 2 Oct.
2008. Web. 01 Nov. 2010. <http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/dakini/>.
ii
Kiltz, Wayne. "Meaning of Spirituality - The Meaning of Cowrie Shells." Seal Bait. Google. Web. 29 Oct. 2010.
<http://www.sealbait.com/article/the-meaning-of-cowrie-shells>.