North Xiangtangshan Grotto 9: Mythical Creature
Stone
North Xiangtangshan Grotto 9: Mythical Creature
CHINA, Hebei, Handan; Northern Qi dynasty
This sculpture of a mythical creature was originally located in North Xiangtangshan Grotto 9. Similar creatures were carved on pillars throughout the grotto, with this particular piece as a good example.
The hybrid creature has the characteristics of both a mammal and a bird. It has a cow-like head, a pair of horns, a snub nose, and protruding teeth. Its torso carries a pair of wings at the shoulders, and the claws on the ends of the arms rest on its waist. Overall, the figure appears powerful and stocky, and assumes a defensive pose.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves Mo-S, page 1289.
Cite this article:
Hsingyun, et al. "North Xiangtangshan Grotto 9: Mythical Creature." Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves Mo-S, vol. 8, 2016, pp. 1289.
Hsingyun, Youheng, Peter Johnson, Mankuang, Susan Huntington, Gary Edson, and Robert Neather. 2016. "North Xiangtangshan Grotto 9: Mythical Creature" In Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves Mo-S, 8:1289.
Hsingyun, Youheng, Johnson, P., Mankuang, Huntington, S., Edson, G., & Neather, R.. (2016). North Xiangtangshan Grotto 9: Mythical Creature. In Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Caves Mo-S (Vol. 8, pp. 1289).
@misc{Hsingyun2016,
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 = 1289,
title = {{North Xiangtangshan Grotto 9: Mythical Creature}},
volume = 8,
year = {2016}}
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 = 1289,
title = {{North Xiangtangshan Grotto 9: Mythical Creature}},
volume = 8,
year = {2016}}