Gold-lacquered wooden sculpture of Shakyamuni Buddha's disciple, Shancai Tongzi (Sudhanakumâra), China, 17th century Carved in the round, he is depicted standing, slightly inclined forward, holding his hands together in a gesture of reverence, his face smiling, his body slightly inclined, dressed in a garment with elaborate folds and encircled by a long scarf passing around his shoulders and over his forearms. It is mounted on a mound-shaped base. Height: 40.6 cm Sudhana is a young pilgrim who travels throughout South and Southeast Asia to study with learned masters and celestial bodhisattvas in his quest for enlightenment. In China, he is often depicted worshipping the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, whom he visited on his travels.