Midala Rock Carvings

CHINA, Yunnan, Kunming

These rock carvings are located on the face of Luquan Midala Cliff on Santaishan (Three Plateau Mountain) in Kunming. Carved during the late Dali Kingdom period (937–1253), the site contains one large niche and one small niche. The large niche contains a depiction of Mahakala, a wrathful form of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, while the smaller niche houses Vaisravana, the Heavenly King of the North. These carvings are listed as a Provincial Cultural Heritage Site.
Vaisravana, 2.3 m in height, wears a mountain-shaped crown with an image of a garuda in the center. With round eyes and an open jaw, the expression of the Heavenly King is ferocious and fearsome as he stands on top of a yaksa. He wears armor with a stole coiled around the arms and a dagger at the waist. The right hand holds a trident, while the left hand is placed on the hip. An inscription to the right of the carving identifies the Heavenly King.
The carving of Mahakala is 4 m in height. Portrayed with a skull crown, Mahakala has a curled mustache and a bushy beard. Although Mahakala’s hands hold Dharma instruments, the arms are not apparent. Coordinated with the skull crown, Mahakala wears a sash of skulls from the left shoulder down to the waist. On the left side above Mahakala is an image of a smaller figure, and between the two images is an inscription that identifies the carving as Mahakala.