Niujiaozhai Rock Carvings Niche 28: Thousand Buddhas (detail)
Niujiaozhai Rock Carvings Niche 28: Sakyamuni Buddha
Niujiaozhai Rock Carvings Niche 28
CHINA, Sichuan, Meishan
Also known as the Thousand Buddha Niche, it was created during the Mid-Tang period (756–846). It is 4.8 m wide, 2.61 m high, and contains a total of 285 sculptures, among which is a 1.16 m high Sakyamuni Buddha statue seated in full lotus position on a lotus throne supported by a Sumeru throne. A petal-shaped nimbus with an inner circle is depicted behind the damaged head, which intersects with an aureole. The figure is draped with a loose monastic robe over a tighter inner robe worn across the left shoulder. The left hand rests on the knee while the right hand is missing.
Surrounding Sakyamuni are neatly arranged rows of the Thousand Buddha motif. Each figure is 24 cm in height and sits in full lotus position. The figures that have not been severely weathered are vividly detailed.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves Mo-S, page 1272.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Johnson, Peter and Mankuang and Huntington, Susan and Edson, Gary and Neather, Robert,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves Mo-S},
pages = 1272,
title = {{Niujiaozhai Rock Carvings Niche 28}},
volume = 8,
year = {2016}}