Wanfo Hall: Sakyamuni Buddha Assembly with Manjusri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas

CHINA, Beijing; Tang dynasty

These reliefs are located on the back wall and on the gables on both sides of the hall. They are carved from 31 rectangular blocks of stone. Sakyamuni Buddha sits among the clouds to teach the Dharma. He is flanked by Manjusri Bodhisattva riding upon a lion and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva seated upon an elephant. They are surrounded by a decorative array made up of the heads of numerous Bodhisattvas. Superimposed upon them is a cross-legged figure with hands in anjali (reverence) mudra and head surrounded by a nimbus, who is representative of the listening attitude of all the rest.