Nannieshui Sculptures

CHINA, Shanxi, Changzhi; Northern Qi dynasty

An excavation undertaken in 1959 recovered more than 1000 stone artifacts from the site. According to an inscription, these sculptures were created between 510 to 1031, from the Northern Wei to the Northern Song dynasties. A majority of the sculptures are from the period of the Southern and Northern dynasties (386–589). The finds include pagodas, statues, steles and stone pillars. Pagodas make up more than 400 of the pieces. There are also about 60 inscribed steles, most are in Northern Wei script and very weathered.
The style of these sculptures can be classified into three groups. Round faces typify the first and earlier period. The second group have slim frames and faces. Pagodas are replaced by steles and round faced statues reappear in the third group, dated from the Northern Qi (550–577) to Northern Song (960–1127) dynasties.
Among the 200 statues discovered, some are of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, heavenly kings, warriors and Arhats, and most are damaged and incomplete. The figures range in height from 3 m to 30 cm. One outstanding example is the statue of a standing Bodhisattva illustrated here. The collar of the long robe overlaps at the chest and folds diagonally for almost the length of the slim body, suggesting its shape beneath.