DORJE CHANG BUDDHA III SOLD FOR MORE THAN US$900,000 PER SQUARE FOOT AT A PUBLIC AUCTION

THIS BROKE THE RECORD FOR THE HIGHEST MARKET VALUE OF ANY CHINESE PAINTING IN HISTORY

An art auction was held on January 31st by the Master Wan Ko Yee International Cultural Institute. One of the paintings auctioned was a small-scale painting entitled “Ancient Village at Remote Mountain Spring” created and donated by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. That painting is only 5.6 square inches, which is about one fourth the size of the palm of a hand. Forty-seven people began to bid on that painting. The final selling price was US$35,100, which equals US$902,571.42 per square foot. This is a record-breaking market value for any Chinese painting ever sold in history. Another donated painting, “Lotus Charm,” was created by Compassionate Mother Dr. Yuhua. It is a 2.3-square-foot Chinese painting of lotus flowers. The final selling price was US$50,100, which is US$21,782.6 per square foot.

On January 31st at the five-star San Gabriel Hilton, the Master Wan Ko Yee International Cultural Institute hosted an “Exhibition of National Treasure Level Works of Art by Compassionate Mother Dr. Yuhua and Auction of Small-Scale Art.” The Institute auctioned the paintings “Lotus Charm” and “Ancient Village at Remote Mountain Spring” to enhance the annual Chinese New Year Celebration that the Institute conducts for its members and to raise money for disaster relief in Haiti. Many dignitaries gathered at the crowded auction site. The many government officials who presented certificates Dr. Yuhua for her artistic achievements also were present to witness the auction. A notary public from a notary public company was present during the auction to perform notarization.

COMPASSIONATE MOTHER DR. YUHUA IS THE PRE-EMINENT PAINTER OF LOTUS FLOWERS IN HISTORY; THE PAINTING “LOTUS CHARM” WAS SOLD AT A HIGH PRICE

Art created by Dr. Yuhua was specially exhibited by Congress at the nation’s Capitol. Furthermore, the Congressional Record stated that, “In the history of Chinese art, her lotus flower paintings are unsurpassed…” The Congressional Record also stated that her hand-sculpted and hand-painted faux coral and faux cobblestones are “treasures of the world.”

The painting “Lotus Charm” by Dr. Yuhua was, of course, a much sought-after work of art. The market value of an artist’s paintings is calculated on a per square foot basis. The minimum opening bid for the 2.3-square-foot “Lotus Charm” was US$10,000. Forty bidders entered the auction site to bid on that painting. The price was driven up by all of those many bidders, but in the end the winning bid was in the amount of US$50,100, or US$21,782.6 per square foot.

THE PAINTING “ANCIENT VILLAGE AT REMOTE MOUNTAIN SPRING” EXPRESSES A LOFTY AND BROAD ARTISTIC CONCEPTION; THE ENERGY OF THE CLOUDY MOUNTAINS IS PALPABLE; SUCH A TINY PAINTING SEEMS TO CONTAIN THOUSANDS OF MOUNTAINS; BUYERS WERE BIDDING FURIOUSLY FOR IT

“Ancient Village at Remote Mountain Spring” is a small-scale painting created by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, who donated it to be auctioned off. An artist who saw that painting said, “Although ‘Ancient Village at Remote Mountain Spring’ is as small as only one-fourth of the size of the palm of a hand, one can see curling mist, mountains, and cliffs. It truly is a magnificent landscape scene that expresses a lofty and broad artistic conception. The energy of the cloudy mountains is palpable. Such a tiny painting seems to contain thousands of mountains. It is not merely an ink-wash painting. Rather, it is a vivid landscape scene that is brimming with vitality!”

H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is a master artist who holds the record for the highest market value of any Chinese painting in the history of the world. In 2000, a painting by His Holiness called “Majesty” sold for more than US$2,120,000 at an international auction. Inscribed on that painting of a group of lions were the Chinese characters “Wan Ko.” It also was stamped with the seal His Holiness uses on His calligraphy and paintings. At another international auction, the painting “Venerable Da Li Won” sold for NT$72,000,000, which equals about US$2,220,000. In 2007, the International Buddhism Sangha Association openly sold a lotus flower painting by His Holiness on which the Chinese characters “Wan Ko” were inscribed. That painting, which is called “Two Flowers; One Lotus Capsule; One Dharma Nature,” sold for US$300,000 per square foot. Another painting by His Holiness entitled “Pasture in Spring” was inscribed with the holy Dharma King name “Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu,” contained the fingerprint of His Holiness, and was stamped with a Dharma King seal. A bidder for that painting offered US$540,000 per square foot.

Prior to January 31st, all of the paintings by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III offered for sale in the international art market were large-scale paintings. January 31st was the first time a small-scale painting by His Holiness was auctioned. As a result, that auction was the focus of much attention. The Chinese characters for “Dorje Chang III” were inscribed on the painting “Ancient Village at Remote Mountain Spring.” On the back of that painting are the fingerprint and seal of His Holiness. The minimum opening bid for that work of art was US$8,000. After rounds of intense bidding, the final selling price was US$35,100, which is a market value of US$902,571.42 per square foot. This broke the record for the highest market value per square foot of any Chinese painting in history.

THERE IS A GREAT POTENTIAL FOR PAINTINGS BY H.H. DORJE CHANG BUDDHA III TO APPRECIATE IN VALUE; COUNTERFEIT PAINTINGS HAVE APPEARED IN THE MARKETPLACE

There are many people in the world today who collect paintings by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III (whose secular name is Master Wan Ko Yee). For example, Guoxing Wang, who is ranked seventh among the ten great and famous Chinese painters, collected several dozen paintings by Master Wan Ko Yee. However, according to appraisals made by Chinese artists, many of those paintings are counterfeit but were stamped with genuine seals. In recent times, numerous counterfeit paintings supposedly created by Master Wan Ko Yee have appeared in society. The reason behind this is that long ago various people in society used various means to collect seals previously used by Master Wan Ko Yee on paintings and calligraphic works as well as personal seals previously used by Master Wan Ko Yee. This has resulted in the confusing situation where counterfeit paintings are stamped with genuine seals.

It has already been publicly revealed that Master Wan Ko Yee has been recognized by eminent monastics and greatly virtuous people around the world as being the true incarnation of Dorje Chang Buddha III. Works of art created by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III now contain His fingerprint. Now, all authentic works of art by His Holiness contain His fingerprint. This fingerprint cannot be counterfeited by anyone. More importantly, information about all of the paintings by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is contained in computer files that can be checked. Anyone who wants to buy a painting by His Holiness should first have that painting authenticated by the Calligraphy and Paintings Authentication Committee jointly established by Superb Art Museum of America, United International World Buddhism Association Headquarters, and International Buddhism Sangha Association. That way, one can avoid being deceived into buying a counterfeit painting.

Any authentic painting that contains the fingerprint of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and about which information is contained in a computer file has great potential to appreciate in value. For example, the painting “Majesty” sold for US$66,250 per square foot in 2000. Ten years later, the current market value for a painting by His Holiness is US$902,571 per square foot, which is about a 13.6-fold increase in value. After the true identity of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III was revealed to the world, His Holiness has not had time to paint paintings. Therefore, each of His paintings is extremely valuable and difficult to purchase even with a large sum of money. One can imagine how many times more valuable a painting by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III will be ten years from now. Paintings by His Holiness have the potential to appreciate in value at least several dozen times more than the amount they appreciated in value over the past ten years. It is no wonder that so many people furiously bid on one of His Holiness’s paintings.

“KING” AND “WHITE JADE TREASURE” ARE HIGEST-GRADE FAUX CORAL WORKS OF ART THAT DR. YUHUA HAND-SCULPTED AND HAND-PAINTED

The following art created by Compassionate Mother Dr. Yuhua was displayed at the exhibition: ten lotus flower paintings and two faux coral sculptures called “Supreme Treasure of the Dragon King’s Palace―King” and “Supreme Treasure of the Dragon King’s Palace―White Jade Treasure” (which includes a matching flower vase called Hong Luo Xiu). The latter two works are hand-sculpted and hand-painted word-class, flawless art of the highest quality that were publicly displayed for the first time at the exhibition. The organization hosting the exhibition stated that all of the exhibits created by Dr. Yuhua were borrowed from Superb Art Museum of America.

The first reaction that many had when viewing “Supreme Treasure of the Dragon King’s Palace―King” was, “How is this possible?” They were amazed that there is such huge “coral” in the world. No coral can be found in any of the world’s oceans that is as magnificent, gorgeous, and elegant as this faux coral. It indeed deserves to be called “Supreme Treasure of the Dragon King’s Palace―King.”

The other faux coral sculpture, “Supreme Treasure of the Dragon King’s Palace―White Jade Treasure,” conveys a sense of natural excellence and soft gracefulness that can spring only from the creativity of a remarkable artist. It is a marvelous creation that excels nature’s coral. All who viewed it were amazed. Although all of the faux coral of this sculpture is white, there are many variations of white. Its natural appearance is inexhaustibly beautiful. Most importantly, it provides the viewer with a feeling of comfort and beauty. An expert art critic said, “This is not like ocean coral. It was created from scratch with special material. It is a masterful work of art that was hand-sculpted, painted with oil colors, and polished. It has ample variations of hues and is as lustrous as jade or pearls. Its texture is genuine-looking. Not only does it appear no different from real coral, it even looks much more ancient, elegant, and beautiful than real coral. It is clear that Dr. Yuhua’s painting skills are truly amazing. Having such skills requires cultivation, knowledge, and talent. Having only knowledge and talent is not enough. A high level of concentration is also required. Otherwise, one’s inner-creativity will not emerge in the process of painting. These Chinese paintings and sculptures of hers can truly be called works that embody the highest artistic skills in the world!”

Lotus flower paintings and landscape paintings by other famous Chinese artists were also displayed at the exhibition. By contrast, the lotus flower paintings by Compassionate Mother Dr. Yuhua were vivid, smooth, vigorous, and lively. Her paintings lack even the slightest trace of mediocrity. There is no way that anyone can copy them. It is no wonder that the United States Congressional Record stated her lotus flower paintings are unsurpassed in the history of Chinese art.

According to the estimate of a person affiliated with Superb Art Museum of America, the faux coral works “King” and “White Jade Treasure” are each worth between US$7,000,000 and US$9,000,000. However, those two works have already been given to Superb Art Museum of America, a non-profit public charity organization, and therefore are not for sale.

MANY DIGNITARIES ATTENDED THIS EVENT; FEDERAL AND LOCAL OFFICIALS PRESENTED CERTIFICATES COMMENDING DR. YUHUA FOR HER ACHEIVEMENTS

Many dignitaries or their representatives attended the exhibition and presented certificates to honor the achievements of Dr. Yuhua or to congratulate her. Among those dignitaries who attended in person or through their representatives were Congresswoman Dianne Watson, Congressman Adam Schiff, Congresswoman Judy Chu, California State Assemblymen, the California State Controller, the five supervisors of Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the mayor of Pomona, the mayor of Cerritos, the Vice-Mayor of Alhambra, the mayor of Monterey Park, the mayor of South Pasadena, the mayor of Redondo Beach, the Sherriff of Los Angeles County, and others. There was a continuous flow of people who attended the exhibition, making a very grand occasion indeed.