Woodcarving of the "Great Renunciation"
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Teak
Burma/Myanmar; Kyaung Thit monastery, Samkha, southern Shan state; c. 1900
DU 1979.4a; Denison University
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Wright
Mrs. Wright’s father, the Rev. Sidney Hollingworth, bought these pieces from the monastery in the 1920s while he was on a missionary trip.
This woodcarving represents the departure of the future Buddha from his palace leaving behind his sleepy wife with his new-born son Rahula. We can identify On the left we see Prince Siddhartha standing ready to leave, with his horse Kanthaka waiting for him on the back of the piece (out of view here). Observe also the vivid depiction of the musicians and the dancers ringing the pedestal below.
