Maijishan Grotto 80: Attendant Bodhisattvas (left wall)
Clay
Maijishan Grotto 80: Attendant Bodhisattvas (right wall)
Maijishan Grotto 80: Attendant Bodhisattvas
CHINA, Gansu, Tianshui; Northern Wei dynasty
These Bodhisattva statues are located on the left and right walls of Grotto 80 and are from the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534). Secured to the wall, each Bodhisattva wears a flowing robe, stands on a semicircular pedestal, has a headdress, and is adorned with a necklace. The Bodhisattvas, with gentle smiles on their faces, emanate an elegant demeanor. Stoles entwine the arms and drift gracefully in the air. A flower is held at the chest by one hand and a vase is held in the hand held down at the side. In contrast to the more Indic appearance of Bodhisattvas in Grotto 74, these Bodhisattvas in some degree appear more Sinicized. They are also sculpted in a more developed and precise manner than other sculptures of the same period.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves M-Mo, page 757.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Johnson, Peter and Mankuang and Huntington, Susan and Edson, Gary and Neather, Robert,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves M-Mo},
pages = 757,
title = {{Maijishan Grotto 80: Attendant Bodhisattvas}},
volume = 7,
year = {2016}}