Xi’an: Pagoda Tier

CHINA, Shaanxi, Xi’an; Northern Wei dynasty

The pagoda was discovered in Xi’an in 1953 with only one section remaining. All four sides are crowded with figures that border a central niche. The variations in the figures and the way they are organized maintain the work’s interest and reflect the versatility of the artists.
Seated Buddhas are within the niches, two of them on lion thrones, with hands in various mudras. All four Buddhas are framed by lotus petal mandorlas rimmed with flames and surrounded by small Buddha images. Slim Bodhisattvas flank the Buddhas, standing on lotus pedestals that are generally supported by warriors. There are more figures towards the top of the niche and beyond it are Buddhas seated in vertical and horizontal rows. The base has more supporting figures, which in one case give place to an inscription.