Sakyamuni and Prabhutaratna Buddhas

CHINA; Northern Wei dynasty

This sculpture illustrates the incident in the Lotus Sutra where the two Buddhas are seated side by side on the same throne while they expound the Dharma.
The smiling figures are similar in appearance, they have hair piled in a usnisa and wear monastic robes that leave the right shoulder bare. Both figures are sitting cross-legged with hands held in the dhyana (meditation) mudra. Circular nimbuses intersected by aureoles, and surrounded by flame-patterned mandorlas are behind the two figures. The nimbuses and aureoles are joined by a larger mandorla, which is embossed with a detailed canopy. The four-legged stand that supports the whole structure is faintly incised with figures making offerings. A seated Buddha with hands in a mudra is on the reverse side. The inscription on the stand states that the work was made in Guanjin county in 472.