Dazu Rock Carvings Baodingshan Great Buddha Bay Niche 5: Avatamsaka Triad

CHINA, Chongqing, Dazu; Southern Song dynasty

Located in the eastern section of the south cliff, this niche is 14.5 m wide and 8.2 m high, and has a flat ceiling. The central figures of the Avatamsaka Triad wear monastic robes and stand barefooted on lotus pedestals.
Vairocana Buddha, located in the center of the triad, forms a mudra with both hands and has two rays of light emitting upwards from the head. Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, located on the right, wears a tall headdress and holds a stupa. Manjusri Bodhisattva, to the left, wears a headdress similar to that of Samantabhadra and holds a seven-tier pagoda. The height of the pagoda is 1.8 m, and it is estimated to weigh over 500 g. It is an excellent example of the integration of the mechanics of architecture into Buddhist artworks. A lion and an elephant each carrying a plate of offerings are depicted under the lotus pedestals of Manjusri and Samantabhadra, respectively.
There are 81 small niches containing seated Buddhas on the wall behind the main figures. The background of each niche is red, and the Buddhas contained within wear either blue or mineral green robes. A stele has been erected featuring a poem by Yu Wenqi of the Song dynasty (960–1279). Another stele features the poem Lingqiuquan by Zhan Fu of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644).