Yungang Grotto 13: Cross-Ankled Bodhisattva
Stone
Yungang Grotto 13: Cross-Ankled Bodhisattva - Four-Armed Warrior
Yungang Grotto 13: Cross-Ankled Bodhisattva
CHINA, Shanxi, Datong; Northern Wei dynasty
This Bodhisattva is the main statue within Grotto 13, measuring 13.5 m in height and dominating the entire back (north) wall. The Bodhisattva sits with legs crossed at the ankles and one hand raised in the abhaya (fearlessness) mudra. Standing below and supporting the hand is a four-armed warrior. The Bodhisattva has a straight, prominent nose, narrow eyes, and elongated earlobes. Ornamenting the figure are a headdress, a necklace, armlets, and bracelets. The flame-pattern mandorla behind the Bodhisattva is severely damaged, but the parts that can still be discerned extend to the grotto ceiling. The Bodhisattva’s head is partly damaged due to weathering, and the figure has been repainted.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves T-Z, page 1713.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Johnson, Peter and Mankuang and Huntington, Susan and Edson, Gary and Neather, Robert,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves T-Z},
pages = 1713,
title = {{Yungang Grotto 13: Cross-Ankled Bodhisattva}},
volume = 9,
year = {2016}}