Hebi: Sakyamuni Buddha Triad

CHINA, Henan, Hebi; Northern Wei dynasty

The triad was unearthed from Hebi in 1974 and created between 494 and 534. The Buddha wears a monastic robe that falls in overlapping layers and opens at the chest to display a knotted inner robe. The hands are held in the conventional abhaya (fearlessness) and while the left hand is held downwards in a mudra. Whorled hair builds to a high usnisa with an ornate nimbus framing the head. A lotus is located at the center of the nimbus while vine-like floral designs meander through the wide outer rim of the nimbus. The Buddha is flanked by smaller figures of crowned Bodhisattvas who hold attributes in both hands. Both figures are standing on lotus buds that grow out from the base. Their robes are overlaid by a stole that threads through a rounded ornament at their abdomen. The composition is united by a flame shaped mandorla engraved with flowers and clouds. The style of the figures’ clothing are reminiscent of the Southern Dynasties (420–589).
Five rows of figures are arranged in groups on the reverse side. The figures carry a tall lotus and face each other across a dividing line of inscriptions recording their names.