Seated Buddha

CHINA; Northern Wei dynasty

The Buddha is seated in full lotus position on a four-legged base with hands in the dhyana (meditation) mudra. A petal-shaped mandorla encircles the figure and includes a lotus nimbus in the center that is encircled by nine Buddhas. The border uses simple lines to represent flames.
The reverse side of the mandorla is divided into three registers. The main focus is the niche at the bottom, that features Sakyamuni and Prabhutaratna Buddhas seated side by side within an ogee arch that is supported by apsaras. Kneeling figures with palms joined in reverence are located on either side. The central register depicts a row of eight meditating Buddhas. Maitreya Buddha flanked by two attendant Bodhisattvas is portrayed in the top register.