Guangzhai Temple Seven Jewel Tower: Buddha Triad Niche
Limestone
Guangzhai Temple Seven Jewel Tower: Buddha Triad Niche
CHINA, Shaanxi, Xi’an; Wu Zhou period
The Buddha at the center is seated on a bench with legs pendent and the right hand raised in abhaya (fearlessness) mudra. The figure wears a monastic robe that leaves the right shoulder bare and his feet rest on twin lotuses growing from below. The flanking Bodhisattvas are framed by billowing stoles. The figure on the left grasps the edge of a stole in one hand and holds a jewel in the other hand, while the other Bodhisattva holds a whisk and a vase. All three figures have nimbuses but while the two Bodhisattvas’ are peach-shaped, the Buddha’s nimbus extends outwards in a web-like formation.
The curving lintel above the figures is decorated with beaded decorations and two apsaras. An inscription on the sculpture dates it to 704 and states it was commissioned by Yao Yuanjing, an official in the Tang dynasty (618–907) court.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture G-M, page 386.
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 = 386,
title = {{Guangzhai Temple Seven Jewel Tower: Buddha Triad Niche}},
volume = 11,
year = {2016}}