Guangzhai Temple Seven Jewel Tower: Maitreya Buddha Triad Niche
Limestone
Guangzhai Temple Seven Jewel Tower: Maitreya Buddha Triad Niche
CHINA, Shaanxi, Xi’an; Wu Zhou period
Maitreya sits within the niche with legs pendent and feet resting on lotus outgrowths. One hand is most likely in the abhaya (fearlessness) mudra. The two attendant Bodhisattvas stand in slight tribhanga postures and wear high topknots. The figure on the right holds a vessel and clasps a trailing stole, while the other Bodhisattva holds a whisk and a vase. Both Bodhisattvas stand on lotus pedestals, with a pair of Dharma protecting lions nearby.
Twin trunks of the dragon flower tree branch from between the Bodhisattvas and blossom above the ogee-shaped lintel. This is ornamented with strung pearls and flanked by flying apsaras. An inscription dates the work to 703 and names Xiao Yuanchun as the person who commissioned it.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture G-M, page 388.
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 = 388,
title = {{Guangzhai Temple Seven Jewel Tower: Maitreya Buddha Triad Niche}},
volume = 11,
year = {2016}}