Maijishan Grotto 133: Stele 1

CHINA, Gansu, Tianshui; Northern Wei dynasty

Stele 1 is also known as the Thousand Buddha Stele because there are 1,304 seated Buddhas, four Bodhisattvas, and four disciples carved on the stele. The small Buddhas carved on all four sides of the stele body are arranged systematically and they represent the Thousand Buddhas of the Present Kalpa. Enshrined in the niche on the apex of the front surface is a seated Buddha with the right hand raised. The Buddha is flanked by two Bodhisattvas, and two disciples are engraved on either side of the niche’s exterior. A similar niche is carved on the back of the stele. The Buddha sits in full lotus position with hands forming the dhyana (meditation) mudra, flanked by two Bodhisattvas with their hands held inside their garments. A mountain range and a disciple are carved on each side of the niche.
The front of the stele has a total of 503 Buddhas. Three seated Buddhas, 4 cm in height, are portrayed on each side of the niche’s base. Below these Buddhas are 28 rows of seated Buddhas. From the 2nd to the 22nd row, there are traces of ink inscriptions. The back of the stele has 36 rows of seated Buddhas. Each row includes 18 figures, totaling 648 images. Carved on the left and right sides of the stele are 25 rows of seated Buddhas, with three images in each row, for a total of 75 figures.