Shiziwan Cliff Tombs: Seated Buddha
Stone
Shiziwan Cliff Tombs: Seated Buddha
CHINA, Sichuan, Leshan; Eastern Han dynasty to Shu Han Kingdom
This relief is located in Persimmon Bay on the east bank of the Minjiang River, among the over 120 cliff tombs in the bay area. The sculptures at this site were carved at some point between the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220) and Shu Han Kingdom (221–263), and were among the first Buddha sculptures to be created after Buddhism came to China.
This sculpture is one of two reliefs of a seated Buddha on the lintel of the door leading to the chamber of Tomb 1. The figure sits in meditation posture with a high usnisa, a nimbus, and a monastic robe. The right hand forms the abhaya (fearlessness) mudra. The relief shares characteristics of the Gandharan Buddhas in northwestern India.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves Mo-S, page 1405.
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 = 1405,
title = {{Shiziwan Cliff Tombs: Seated Buddha}},
volume = 8,
year = {2016}}