Shizhongshan Grottoes Niche 1

CHINA, Yunnan, Dali

Located outside on the west side of the main hall at Shizhong Temple, this arched niche from the Dali Kingdom (937–1253) measures 1.66 m wide, 1.68 m high, and 0.4 m deep. The arch is decorated with a well-preserved bead pattern, and there are nine figures inside the niche.
Carved on the back wall, King Yimouxun (reigned 779–808) is considerably larger than the other figures. He wears a loose robe and a tall crown while sitting atop a throne. To the left of the king are two guards: the one on the right carries a scroll in one hand and a sword in the other, while the one on the left carries a dragon-headed sword with both hands in front of the chest. An attendant with a fan and a whisk in his right hand, and a long-neck vase in his left is found behind the guards. The attendant to the right of the king carries a box. Another attendant, carrying a straw hat on his back while holding a cane in his right hand and a handkerchief in his left, is behind him.
Additionally, there is a seated official wearing a hat on each of the side walls of the niche. A large rectangular relief is carved behind the king. Inscriptions can be found in the clouds on both sides of the relief, but the words are no longer discernible. The inked inscription on the left wall was written by a later generation. A statue of a monk can be found on the left wall outside the niche.
Upon ascending the throne, King Yimouxun, who wanted to escape the control of the Tibetan Empire, followed the advice of the official Zheng Hui and sent numerous envoys to show his allegiance to the Tang dynasty. The historically famous “Cangshan Mountain Alliance” between Tang and Nanzhao ended 40 years of war, and as a result, King Yimouxun was worshipped as a great guardian in the Benzu tradition.