The historical Buddha Shakyamuni

The Buddha Shakyamuni, seated in meditation on the lotus throne, holds the alms bowl and displays the earth-touching gesture. His youthful countenance and sweet expression, and the excellent artisanship of this sculpture, are typical of the works of Zanabazar (1635–1723, highest incarnation of the Gelug order in Mongolia) and his Mongolian school of sculpture. The semi-oval lotus pedestal directly under the figure, the treatment of the petals and stamens, and the two rows of pearls are all characteristic of the works of this school.

The throne, which has an elaborate arch, is not by the same hand. The Hindu sun bird Garuda stands triumphantly over the two serpent deities in a typical Nepalese motif that was adopted by artists in Tibet, China, and Mongolia.