Yungang Grotto 5: Buddha Niches
Stone
Yungang Grotto 5: Buddha Niches
CHINA, Shanxi, Datong; Northern Wei dynasty
Situated between the entrance and window on the front (south) wall are two rows of Buddha niches, with eight niches per row. Each contains a 1.03 m high seated Buddha who forms the abhaya (fearlessness) mudra with one hand and the varada (wish-granting) mudra with the other hand. The niches on the upper row are arch-shaped with Buddhas carved on the lintels, while those on the lower row are trapezoidal and decorated with lotus or honeysuckle patterns. The Buddhas within the niches are identical, with high usnisas and wearing a wide-sleeved, loose monastic robe tied at the waist. Additional smaller figures have been carved between the upper niches, with red drapery suspended above them.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves T-Z, page 1648.
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 = 1648,
title = {{Yungang Grotto 5: Buddha Niches}},
volume = 9,
year = {2016}}