Stupa
Steatite
Stupa
CHINA; Northern Wei dynasty
The circular stupa consists of three sections: an octagonal incised base, an inscribed circular midsection, and a niched inverted bowl. A male or female figure holding a lotus in their right hand occupies each face of the base. The figures have nimbuses and are draped with stoles.
The circular midsection has a 37-line inscription, including an excerpt from Chapter 46 of the Ekottara Agama, and a dedication that states the stupa was commissioned by Suo Ahou in 435. The bowl-shaped upper segment is carved with eight rounded niches incised with ogee arches. Each of the niches contains an image carved in high relief. Seven of the carved figures are Buddhas seated cross-legged with hands in dhyana (meditation) mudra, and one is a Bodhisattva with ankles crossed.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture St-Z, page 1171.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Lovelock, Yann and Chou, Yuan and Huntington, Susan and Edson, Gary and Neather, Robert,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture St-Z},
pages = 1171,
title = {{Stupa }},
volume = 13,
year = {2016}}