Tongnan: Great Buddha
Stone
Tongnan: Great Buddha (detail)
Tongnan: Great Buddha
CHINA, Chongqing, Tongnan; Southern Song dynasty
The Buddha’s head was created during the time of Emperor Yizong (reigned 859–873) of the Tang dynasty, according to the Tongnan County Gazeteer. It remained in this state until 1126, when a Daoist priest named Wang Liaozhi commissioned artisans to complete the body, which was accomplished in 1151. The statue was gilded between 1862 and 1874. The head and body fit perfectly despite a difference of more than 300 years.
The Buddha’s monastic robe covers both shoulders but is opened at the front to reveal the knotted inner robe. The figure sits in full lotus position with one hand resting on the lap and the other on a knee. A pavilion with seven overhanging eaves was built in the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) to shelter the statue.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture St-Z, page 1242.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Lovelock, Yann and Chou, Yuan and Huntington, Susan and Edson, Gary and Neather, Robert,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture St-Z},
pages = 1242,
title = {{Tongnan: Great Buddha}},
volume = 13,
year = {2016}}