Noticeable sculpture depicting the Gautama Buddha, in his canonical manifestation. The figure, with a hieratic expression and finely made, is sitting in the padmasana position on a double lotus flower base, enriched by gems. The right hand performs the bhūmisparśa mudra, asking the earth to witness the truth of his word, while the left hand is resting in his lap in the avakasamudra, the gesture of relaxation. The figure wears a monastic robe, finely chiseled with phytomorphic decors on the edges. The base, still sealed, shows a double vajra, and at the back of the figure is a long inscription. The inscription concerns the propagation of the Buddhist doctrine in relation to the first disciples of the following of Buddha Sakyamuni, here directly addressed. Transliteration of the inscription with orthographic corrections in parenthesis: °°|| Shag (for: Shā) kya thub pa khyed (for: khyed rang) kyi 'khor gi (for: gyi) thog ma pu (for: bu)| chos dar skra bang ga|| Literal translation of the readable portions of the inscription: (Oh) Sākyamuni, the first (thog ma) sons (pu per: bu) of your (khyed kyi) following ('khor gyi), propagation (of the) doctrine (chos dar) hair (skra?) bang ga (bang ga). The inscription is made up of sixteen syllables, some of which of uncertain meaning. The text might be in relation with an iconographical complex in which the sculpture was placed centrally, among a series of portraits depicting the first disciples of Sākyamuni. Translation by Professor Erberto Lo Bue.