Sakyamuni Buddha Triad

CHINA; Eastern Wei dynasty

The Buddha wears a monastic robe that opens at the front to reveal a knotted inner robe, and has numerous folds cascading ornately down the length of the body. The figure’s left hand is held downward in varada (wish-granting) mudra while the broken right hand was probably in abhaya (fearlessness) mudra. Bodhisattvas standing upon lotus pedestals flank the central figure. They wear stoles that drape the length of the body and robes that are in the same style as the Buddha’s.
The mandorla that unites the trio is carved with intricate flames and encloses the Buddha’s magnificent nimbus. A creature’s head is located in the center with flowering tendrils spilling forth from its mouth and wrapping around the nimbus. An inscription on the back states the statue was dedicated in 537 by Prince Yuan Ning for his deceased wife, hence the extravagant detail, due to being a member of the imperial family.