Yungang Grotto 13: Seven Buddhas

CHINA, Shanxi, Datong; Northern Wei dynasty

Located below the window in the front (south) wall, these seven Buddhas stand barefoot on lotus pedestals within a horizontal niche decorated to resemble three houses. The Buddhas have similar appearances, including a high usnisa, narrow eyes and eyebrows, and slight smiles. They wear loose gowns with wide sashes knotted in front, in the design style instituted after the Taihe period (477–499) reform. Each Buddha forms the abhaya (fearlessness) mudra with the right hand and the varada (wish-granting) mudra with the left. A triple-layer mandorla surrounds each figure. The inner and outer rings of the mandorlas are filled with flames while the middle rings are either decorated with figures making offerings, apsaras, or Buddha images. The nimbuses all have lotus petals in the center and an outer ring decorated with Buddhas or apsaras.