Bodhisattva in Contemplation
Marble
Bodhisattva in Contemplation
CHINA; Northern Qi dynasty
The Bodhisattva is seated in the relaxation posture accompanied by two disciples and two Bodhisattvas. All standing figures are on lotus pedestals. The main figure wears a headdress with an ornate nimbus framing the head. The upper body is adorned with a collar necklace while the lower body is covered in a loose dhoti whose folds cascade down over the throne. The whorls on the knee are a feature of the Northern Qi dynasty (550–577). The branches of trees frame the top of the back screen with six apsaras among the foliage.
There is a child on the base of the relief holding an incense burner flanked by two lions and two benevolent kings. The reverse side of the carving has depictions of deities.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture A-F, page 167.
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 A-F},
pages = 167,
title = {{Bodhisattva in Contemplation}},
volume = 10,
year = {2016}}