Longmen Grotto 1443: Niche

CHINA, Henan, Luoyang; Northern Wei dynasty

This niche, the third from the left on the upper tier of the south wall, was commissioned by Xincheng county chief magistrate, Sun Qiusheng, and 200 other benefactors. The niche has a lintel adorned with lotuses, apsaras, 11 Buddhas in meditation, and lotus-born heavenly beings. Octagonal columns with lotus capitals and dragon heads flank both sides of the niche. From below, warriors support the columns.
Inside the niche are Sakyamuni Buddha and two Bodhisattvas. The head of the Buddha is damaged. A robe incised with regular folds, crosses one of the Buddha’s shoulders. There is a swastika on the chest and the figure is seated in full lotus position. The hands form the dhyana (meditation) mudra. A nimbus with three layers is decorated with lotus petals, Buddha images, and apsaras, as well as a flame-pattern mandorla is depicted behind the Buddha. One of the flanking Bodhisattvas has sustained substantial damage, and the other is missing.
The bottom edge of the niche displays two dragons surrounding an incense burner, on either side of which two kneeling figures make offerings. The outer edges depict two lions. To the left of the niche, a stele with a coiled dragon on top is inscribed with the names of the 200 benefactors. This inscription is one of the Twenty Outstanding Inscriptions of the Longmen Grottoes.