Longxing Temple Sculptures: Maitreya Buddha
Red sandstone
Longxing Temple Sculptures: Fragment of a Bodhisattva
Longxing Temple Sculptures
CHINA, Sichuan, Chengdu; Tang dynasty
Over 200 sculptures were discovered after a flood in 1947. Scholars recognized the site as the ruins of Longxing Temple, which was built during the Early Tang period (618–712) and reached the peak of its popularity during the Mid-Tang period (756–846). It was concluded from the burnt red soil and rubble which littered the ruins that it was destroyed by fire.
Most of the finds date to the Tang dynasty. One sculpture is a Maitreya Buddha who is seated with legs pendent and both feet resting on lotuses. The figure’s right arm is missing. Another artwork is the fragment of a Bodhisattva wearing a large, intricate headdress. The right hand is lifted and the neck has the three lines of a great person.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture G-M, page 641.
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 G-M},
pages = 641,
title = {{Longxing Temple Sculptures}},
volume = 11,
year = {2016}}