Longmen Grotto 140: Ceiling
Stone
Longmen Grotto 140: Ceiling
CHINA, Henan, Luoyang; Northern Wei dynasty
Encircled by eight flying apsaras, the lotus flower in the center of this grotto’s domed ceiling has long, slim petals. At the top, on both sides of the Buddha’s flame-patterned mandorla, two heavenly beings make offerings. Both the heavenly beings and apsaras have circular nimbuses. The apsaras wear topknots and necklaces, and fly in a U-shaped posture as their legs flutter behind them. They wear long dhotis and stoles billow across their bodies. The apsaras either hold musical instruments or make various hand gestures as clouds trail behind them. The outer portion of the domed ceiling is embellished with layers of patterns such as coins, fish scales, zigzag, and valance patterns.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves R-L, page 666.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Johnson, Peter and Mankuang and Huntington, Susan and Edson, Gary and Neather, Robert,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves R-L},
pages = 666,
title = {{Longmen Grotto 140: Ceiling}},
volume = 6,
year = {2016}}