Yungang Grotto 17: Maitreya Bodhisattva
Stone
Yungang Grotto 17: Maitreya Bodhisattva
CHINA, Shanxi, Datong; Northern Wei dynasty
This sculpture of Maitreya Bodhisattva is located on the back (north) wall and measures 15.6 m in height. The Bodhisattva is portrayed seated with legs crossed at the ankles, wearing a headdress and monastic robes. The face and arms of the figure are severely damaged, although the remaining details suggest a similar style to the cross-legged Bodhisattva carved inside the east wall of the window on the front (south) wall. Sculptures and other artwork featuring the Bodhisattva were particularly popular during the Northern Dynasties (386–581), during which a large quantity of Maitreya statues were constructed at the Yungang Grottoes. This sculpture was probably among the earliest of such works.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves T-Z, page 1722.
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 T-Z},
pages = 1722,
title = {{Yungang Grotto 17: Maitreya Bodhisattva}},
volume = 9,
year = {2016}}