Guanyin Temple Avalokitesvara Hall Sculptures (south wall)
Clay
Guanyin Temple Avalokitesvara Hall Sculptures: Ceiling
Guanyin Temple Avalokitesvara Hall Sculptures: Arhat
Guanyin Temple Avalokitesvara Hall Sculptures
CHINA, Shanxi, Changzhi; Ming dynasty
The west-facing Avalokitesvara Hall contains sculptures from the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). The Three Great Bodhisattvas, Avalokitesvara, Manjusri and Samantabhadra, are the hall’s main focus, but the north and south walls are covered with rhythmic sculptures that reach to the ceiling. They depict the Eighteen Arhats, Twenty-Four Heavenly Beings, the Twelve Perfect Enlightenment Bodhisattvas, as well as Confucian and Daoist immortals. Additionally, the roof beams are covered with Buddhist deities while some hang suspended in the air.
The Eighteen Arhats are depicted in a variety of poses and carrying out various actions. The Twenty-Four Heavenly Beings are equally diverse in appearance, while the Twelve Perfect Enlightenment Bodhisattvas are gracefully seated at ease.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture G-M, page 389.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Lovelock, Yann and Chou, Yuan and Huntington, Susan and Edson, Gary and Neather, Robert,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture G-M},
pages = 389,
title = {{Guanyin Temple Avalokitesvara Hall Sculptures}},
volume = 11,
year = {2016}}