In front of City Hall
(1 of 7) (4523 views)

"Three Heads, 6 Arms"
Artist Zhang Huan of China
Civic Center plaza, San Francisco, California
(Photo posted Saturday 15 May 2010)
(Photo taken 13:26:02 Wednesday 12 May 2010)
© 2010 Bryan Costales
#132602_4569BCX

The gigantic 26-foot tall (7.8 meters high) sculpture weighed a whopping 15 tons (13.6 tonnes). This is a new sculpture, first premiered here.

Six Arms
(2 of 7) (2551 views)

"Three Heads, 6 Arms"
Artist Zhang Huan of China
Civic Center plaza, San Francisco, California
(Photo posted Saturday 15 May 2010)
(Photo taken 13:26:50 Wednesday 12 May 2010)
© 2010 Bryan Costales
#132650_4571BCX

The six arms each have a bracelet on the wrist and the upper arm near the shoulder. The upper arm bracelets were the attachment points where each arm was mounted to the body.

Hands held flowers
(3 of 7) (2495 views)

"Three Heads, 6 Arms"
Artist Zhang Huan of China
Civic Center plaza, San Francisco, California
(Photo posted Saturday 15 May 2010)
(Photo taken 13:27:20 Wednesday 12 May 2010)
© 2010 Bryan Costales
#132720_4573BCX

All but one of the six hands each held a metal representation of a lotus flower . Perhaps the hand without the flower represents Mahakashyapa.

Detail of the body
(4 of 7) (2478 views)

"Three Heads, 6 Arms"
Artist Zhang Huan of China
Civic Center plaza, San Francisco, California
(Photo posted Saturday 15 May 2010)
(Photo taken 13:27:48 Wednesday 12 May 2010)
© 2010 Bryan Costales
#132748_4576BCX

The body was one of three points that supported the entire sculpture. The location of the sculpture in the plaza was limited to this one place because the statue was so heavy and the plaza over a parking garage was not strong enough except here.

Three heads
(5 of 7) (2532 views)

"Three Heads, 6 Arms"
Artist Zhang Huan of China
Civic Center plaza, San Francisco, California
(Photo posted Saturday 15 May 2010)
(Photo taken 13:27:56 Wednesday 12 May 2010)
© 2010 Bryan Costales
#132756_4577BCX

The three heads and three arms on a single body represent the concept of Trikaya in Buddhist teachings. The doctrine says that Buddha has three kaya or bodies that individually represent: time and space; bliss or clear light; and enlightenment.

Not religious
(6 of 7) (2492 views)

"Three Heads, 6 Arms"
Artist Zhang Huan of China
Civic Center plaza, San Francisco, California
(Photo posted Saturday 15 May 2010)
(Photo taken 13:28:30 Wednesday 12 May 2010)
© 2010 Bryan Costales
#132830_4579BCX

Although the sculpture was inspired by the many artifacts of Buddhist beliefs, the sculpture itself was meant to represent merely harmony. This sculpture was made of copper, the same material often used for fabricating Buddhist sculpture in Tibet and India.

No signs
(7 of 7) (2507 views)

"Three Heads, 6 Arms"
Artist Zhang Huan of China
Civic Center plaza, San Francisco, California
(Photo posted Saturday 15 May 2010)
(Photo taken 13:28:46 Wednesday 12 May 2010)
© 2010 Bryan Costales
#132846_4580BCX

This photo was taken the afternoon following the morning that the sculpture was dedicated. Yet there was no sign anywhere which identified it or its artist. A 2x4 wooden frame nailed to the concrete formed a box around the sculpture, but that was all.