Stele

CHINA; Northern Wei dynasty

The front and back of the stele are similar in design with an ornate niche at the bottom and rows of smaller Buddhas in niches at the top. Names of the donors are inscribed beside each niche, giving the various dates of their carving as 512, 525, and 532.
The front depicts Sakyamuni Buddha beneath an ogee-shaped lintel. His hands point up and down in what looks like the abhaya (fearlessness) and varada (wish-granting) mudras. His voluminous monastic robe hangs in several layers over the throne. Outside the alcove are Bodhisattvas, with figures making offerings below them. The reverse shows Maitreya Bodhisattva seated with ankles crossed and his feet pointing awkwardly inwards. Reverential Bodhisattvas stand below on either side. The top and sides of the niche are decorated with varied ornamental motifs. The slender faces and builds of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas are typical of late Northern Wei dynasty (386–534) sculptures.