Dazu Rock Carvings Baodingshan Great Buddha Bay Niche 21: Ten Austerities of Liu Benzun - Liu Benzun

CHINA, Chongqing, Dazu; Southern Song dynasty

This statue of Liu Benzun is in the center of the upper tier of Niche 21. Liu Benzun was born in 855 in Jiazhou (present day Leshan, Sichuan), and passed away in 942. His original name was Juzhi, but is popularly known as Benzun. Liu Benzun was famous for propagating the teachings of the Yogacara school during the Late Tang period (846–907) and the Five Dynasties (907–960), and for building a temple at Mimou, west of Sichuan. During the Five Dynasties, Liu earned the title “Grand Master of the Yogacara School from the Tang Dynasty” from Emperor Gaozu (reigned 907–918) of the Former Shu Kingdom.
In the carving, Liu Benzun wears a long robe and a rectangular blue headdress with a seated Buddha on it. He has a long, thin mustache and beard. His right hand is raised, forming a mudra symbolic of giving teachings. The majority of the statue is gilded.