Thailand tree carving vies with Bodh Gaya photo as most authentic representation
"The Buddha image, without which the sculptural art of South Asia would have been deprived not only of its major bulk but also much of its stylistic versatility and spiritual fervor, has constantly been under debate as to its origin and evolution.
Shakyamuni Buddha (Seiryoji, Kyoto, Japan, AD 987) said to be based on King Udayana's first image of Buddha.
Some believe that the first Buddha image came into being during the lifetime of the Buddha himself. These scholars contend that the tradition so begun continued ever since. But the medium, wood or clay, generally used for making these images, being of perishable nature, could not have such images survive against time.
The legend of King Udayana, which appears in the Chinese version of the Numerical Discourses ("Anguttara Nikaya"), supports this view. This text of it -- translated into Chinese some time between the 1st and 3rd Century A.C.E. from a Korean translation of the scripture, obviously a work of an earlier date -- contends that the Buddha, after he was enlightened, wished to deliver a sermon to his mother Maya who, having passed away, was in the Trayatrimsa Heaven (or Realm of the Thirty-three).
One of the earliest surviving Buddha images. Kushana Dynasty gold coin with standing Buddha, circa 100 B.C.E. (qcc.cuny.edu).
The Buddha hence left the human world for three months and went there. His absence was unbearable to King Udayana. He thus commissioned his image. The Buddha came down from "Trayatrimsa". And according to the legend, King Udayana, showed the image to the Buddha, who thereupon preached the great virtue of making such images. (This is in stark contrast to tradition, which states that the Buddha vigorously discouraged graven images. Instead, followers were encouraged to apply the Teachings as the highest form of honoring him).
This story of King Udayana commissioning the Buddha image is said to have been recorded also by Fa-hsien and later by Hsuan Tsang in their travel accounts. One of the most sacred Buddha images in Japan is revered as being the replica of the above-mentioned King Udayana's Buddha image. This image was allegedly brought from China to Japan in 986 A.D. by a Japanese Buddhist monk, Chonen.
The first Buddha image was made of sandalwood. Adhering to tradition, the Japanese replica is worshipped by offering pouches of sandalwood powder. This legend of the origin of the Buddha image remains prevalent and largely believed in Tibet, China, and Japan.
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