South Xiangtangshan Grotto 1: Buddha Niche

CHINA, Hebei, Handan; Northern Qi dynasty

This niche is located on the front of the central pillar. It contains figures of a Buddha, two Bodhisattvas, and four disciples. A part of the Buddha’s head has been damaged. The Buddha has an oval face. His right hand probably forms the vitarka (teaching) mudra. Seated in full lotus position on a lotus throne, the Buddha wears a monastic robe over an inner robe. The hem of the robe drapes down naturally over the throne. Fine carving skills would have been needed to produce the realistic, smooth, and delicate textures of the clothing. There are seven Buddha images in the Buddha’s nimbus, and on either side above are flying apsaras. During the period in which the niche was carved, Buddha images were typically designed as simple forms with the curves of the body shown in a natural way. These features characterize the cave arts of the Xiangtangshan Grottoes from the Northern Qi dynasty (550–577).