Mahavairocana

Dali Kingdom, 1163
Shanghai Museum

This gilt bronze evocation of Vairocana, the Cosmic Buddha, displays bhumisparsha mudra ("calling the earth to witness") and bears a decorated band around his upper right arm. An undercoat of red, exposed here in places where the gilding has worn off, was customarily used in order to add warmth to the gold color of the gilding.