Stele
Yellow limestone
Stele (back)
Stele
CHINA; Western Wei dynasty
The curved top of the stele is formed by the backs of two dragons. A pair of apsaras fly between them. The primary scene shows a seated Buddha in a niche flanked by disciples and Bodhisattvas. Two rows of seated Buddhas form a gallery above the seated figure. Dharma protecting lions are on either side of the central Buddha’s throne. Dragons frame the lintel above a crowned Maitreya Bodhisattva seated with ankles crossed on the reverse side of the stele. Niches on either side are inset with attendants and Buddhas. Under the first niches are two more Buddha niches with attendants in lower relief. An inscription, partly illegible, dates the stele to 547 and Sengyue as the main donor. The stele was dedicated to the emperor and the parents of the donors during seven past lives.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture St-Z, page 1164.
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 St-Z},
pages = 1164,
title = {{Stele}},
volume = 13,
year = {2016}}