Tansen – Maitreya Statue

Maitreya, the Buddha to come, in bronze with gilt accents and turquoise and coral inlay.

Both feet down: the posture that names him
8 inches: altar figure, office shelf
Not the round laughing figure often confused with him
Turquoise and coral inlaid into the bronze

$349.99

Free shipping on US orders over $180 · 30-day returns

The buddha to come

Maitreya is the figure expected to teach in a future age - a subject with a long iconographic tradition across Buddhism, and distinct from the round laughing figure often confused with him.

Recognised by the posture

Seated with both feet down rather than crossed, as though about to rise. A small stupa in the headdress is the other common marker.

Turquoise and coral inlay

Both are set into the metal rather than applied on it, following Himalayan convention. Keep water away: turquoise is porous and coral is soft.

Bring spiritual serenity and religious reverence to your space with this sacred Maitreya Bodhisattva statue, a handcrafted piece of Buddhist art that embodies the compassion of Mahayana Buddhism. Crafted from bronze with gilt accents, this 8-inch seated Maitreya figure, carved with precision, reflects the 6th-century style of Korean art, inspired by the National Museum of Korea and the National Treasure of Korea. Depicting the future Buddha, Maitreya, who will become a Buddha in a later stage of time, this statue features a meditative mudra with hands held in a teaching gesture, palms facing outward, adorned with a crown, hair loop, and a detailed robe inlaid with turquoise and coral stones. Its throne, inspired by the ancient Gandhara region in Pakistan and the Kushan Empire, enhances any temple, office, or home decor, symbolizing enlightenment, wisdom, and the life of a bodhisattva.

Place it in a sacred space, perhaps near a lotus or water feature, to honor the Buddhist tradition, meet Maitreya, and inspire daily meditation. This Maitreya Bodhisattva statue, a rare piece of Buddhist sculpture, connects you to the history of East Asian Buddhism, including Chinese Buddhism, Japanese traditions, Tibetan Buddhism, and the kingdom of the Silla dynasty.

Available in our online shop, this statue of Maitreya wards off negativity, making it an ideal gift for your collection or a museum of art display. For those concerned about authenticity, rest assured: it’s ethically sourced from Asian artisans in Central Asia, honoring the culture of Indian Buddhist traditions, as recorded by sources like the Oxford University Press. Display it with reverence – indoor or outdoor – as a beautiful piece, and let its fine craftsmanship, identified as a masterpiece by sculptors, elevate your space. View our Maitreya Bodhisattva statue for sale, explore options like the bronze Maitreya in meditation, standing forms, or 19th-century Silla dynasty-inspired designs, and buy this statue to enhance your spiritual decor with a touch of timeless significance, worthy of a New York gallery.

Three things tell you more about a figure than its price.

Size, and where it will sit. Measure the shelf, the altar or the sill first. A figure that crowds its space reads as clutter however fine it is.

Material and finish. Cast metal is heavy and takes a patina over the years. Resin is far lighter and keeps its finish as it is. Stone sits between the two. The craft is listed on most pages here.

Which figure. Each form has its own meaning and its own gestures - Shakyamuni, Tara, Avalokiteshvara and the others are not interchangeable ornaments. It is worth reading what a figure represents before choosing it, and choosing the one that means something to you.

A small figure is not a lesser one. Scale has never been what makes one of these worth having.

Orders are processed within one to two business days, Monday to Friday, with tracking on every parcel. Delivery across the continental United States then takes ten to twenty-five days.

Shipping is a flat $9.95, and free on orders over $180. We do not ship outside the United States at this time.

Changed your mind? You have thirty days from delivery to request a return. A bowl that has been played is still returnable - we only ask that it comes back complete and in its original packing. Approved refunds go back to your original payment method within three business days. Full terms are on our Returns & Refunds page.

Made of something that ages

Metal takes a patina, wood darkens with handling. Both keep changing after you have bought them, which is the one thing resin never does.

Named on every page

Shakyamuni, Maitreya, Avalokiteshvara: the posture and the hands are what tell them apart. We name the figure so you choose the one that means something to you.

Small is not lesser

Scale has never been what makes one of these worth having. The smallest here sit on a working desk without crowding it.

Frequently asked questions

What does Maitreya represent?

The buddha to come - the figure expected to teach in a future age. He is often shown seated with both feet down rather than crossed, as though about to rise.

How is Maitreya recognised?

By the seated posture with legs pendant, and often by a small stupa in the headdress. He is not the laughing, round figure sometimes called "Buddha" in the West, which is a different subject entirely.

What is the turquoise and coral inlay for?

Both are traditional in Himalayan metalwork, set into the surface rather than applied on it. They are decorative, and they mark the level of work put into a piece.

How should the inlay be cared for?

Dust it dry and keep water away - turquoise is porous and can discolour, and coral is soft. No cleaning products of any kind.

Where a figure sits

The conventions are simple and widely shared: raised rather than on the floor, out of a bathroom, and the head is not handled or displayed on its own. Beyond that it is your decision. We give you the conventions because they are easy to miss, not to tell you what your home should look like.

A bronze seated figure on a wooden bench, raised clear of the floor

Cast, then finished by hand

These figures are cast in bronze or copper alloy, then chased, gilded and set with turquoise and coral by hand. The stones sit in cut recesses rather than being glued to the surface. Gilding is thin by nature and wears at the places a figure is touched, which is why old pieces are brightest where nobody reaches.