Chengdu: Sakyamuni and Prabhutaratna Buddhas

CHINA, Sichuan, Chengdu; Southern Liang dynasty

This sculpture was excavated in Chengdu in 1995. It consists of a group of figures: two Buddhas, five Bodhisattvas, two disciples, two Heavenly Kings, and two lions. The two Buddhas are identified as Sakyamuni and Prabhutaratna seated on lotuses growing out of a vase. Both Buddhas wear monastic robes that leave the right shoulder uncovered. The slimmer figure is thought to be Sakyamuni Buddha, who is most likely forming the abhaya (fearlessness) mudra, while Prabhutaratna Buddha forms the vitarka (teaching) mudra. The Bodhisattvas wear headdresses, while the disciples have shaven heads. The mandorla is in the form of a pointed arch and has a relief of the Buddha teaching the Dharma, with flames and apsaras decorating the edges.
The Buddha is shown on the back of the mandorla teaching the Dharma to disciples. An inscription at the bottom states the statue was dedicated by the lay disciple Zhang Yuan in 545 for his deceased parents and identifies the two Buddhas.