Bingling Temple Cave 6: Seated Buddha
Bingling Temple Cave 6: Seated Buddha
CHINA, Gansu, Linxia; Northern Zhou dynasty
The sculptures in Cave 6 date to the Northern Zhou dynasty (557–581). Of the original pieces, the only remaining carvings are this Buddha, located in the shallow niche on the back wall, and a pair of Bodhisattvas on the side walls.
The Buddha sits in full lotus position on a throne, with both hands forming the dhyana (meditation) mudra. On his head is a flat usnisa. His face is round with delicate features and an urna on the forehead. The Buddha wears a monastic robe covering both shoulders, detailed with dense folds. The nimbus and mandorla surrounding the Buddha are particularly striking. They were painted during the Northern Zhou dynasty and display flame patterns in mineral blue, mineral green, and ocher red.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves A-E, page 162.
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 A-E},
pages = 162,
title = {{Bingling Temple Cave 6: Seated Buddha}},
volume = 5,
year = {2016}}