Baisigou Pagoda: Usnisavijaya Dharani Sutra Pillar

CHINA, Ningxia, Yinchuan; Western Xia period

This print was discovered in 1991. The right half is badly damaged. The central image is a sutra pillar with a canopy at the top and fringes hanging on both sides. In the center of the pillar is Vidyarajni, a manifestation of Vairocana Buddha, sitting in full lotus position. Vidyarajni is portrayed with three heads and eight arms, and has a nimbus and mandorla. The hands form mudras or hold various objects.
The central figure is surrounded by the text of the Usnisavijaya Dharani Sutra written in Sanskrit. The base of the pagoda is a Sumeru throne, on top of which is a lotus with Sanskrit syllables engraved on the petals. This print, made from a skillfully carved wooden block, seems to have been influenced by Tibetan Buddhist art.