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Bodhisattva Lotus Pedestal
- Title Translation: 菩萨莲花台
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Guardian King
- Title Translation: 菩萨立像
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: Standing Bodhisattva, robed, holding flywhisk and unidentified object.
Bodhisattva Head
- Title Translation: 菩萨头
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Pratyekabuddha Head
- Title Translation: 辟支(缘觉)佛头
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: Stone head of a Pratyekabuddha. Dark bistre colored marble with a greenish yellow patina. From a large statue, approximately life size. Ancient head covering in spiral peak form.
Bodhisattva Head
- Title Translation: 菩萨头
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: Stone head of bodhisattva. Hard dark stone. Life size. Narrow oval face with half-closed eyes and tiny mouth; no urna; long ears with pierced lobes and earrings; three peaked headdress with tassels partly missing.
Bodhisattva Head
- Title Translation: 菩萨头
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: Although the Northern Qi was a shortlived state in northeastern China, it once served as a major center for the development of Buddhism. Its rulers were fervent followers of Buddhism and patrons of innumerable temple building projects. A major focus of their efforts was the great rock-cut cave complex at Xiangtangshan on the border between Hebei and Henan. This head once belonged to a colossal statue at this site. Its rounded, rather youthful face and smooth contours are typical of the stylistic development of the time.
Bodhisattvas Standing
- Title Translation: 菩萨立像
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: This sculpture along with A.8-1913 was bought from S.M. Franck & Co. in London in 1913 for £60. They also feature in the publication 'La Sculpture Chinoise' (plate 538), Annales du musee Guimet, biliotheque d'art novelle serie - 1, 1926.
Bodhisattvas Standing
- Title Translation: 菩萨立像
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: This figure sculpted from stone represents the Bodhissatva Guanyin, an important Buddhist deity, also known as the Bodhissatva of Compassion and Avalokitesvara in Sanskrit and who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. Depictions of Guanyin feature very widely in Chinese material culture from the earliest times of Buddhist worship in China in the late 2nd century AD. Guanyin can be identified by the small figure of the Amitaba Buddha that sits in his crown. Bodhisattvas (with Museum No.A7-1913) are spiritually enlightened beings who help others attain enlightnment. Here they each hold a lotus bud as a symbol of purity and goodness. The lotus also represents the potential for attaining enlightenment.
Southern Xiangtangshan, seated buddha
- Title Translation: 南响堂山洞穴群 , 坐佛
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: The two main groups of caves are known as Northern and Southern Xiangtangshan. The Northern Group, Bei Xiangtang, is the earliest and largest in scale and has three caves begun with imperial sponsorship; the Southern Group, Nan Xiangtang, has smaller caves numbered from one to seven; and a third site at Shuiyusi, also known as Xiao Xiangtang or “Little Xiangtang,” has one Northern Qi cave with sculptures.
Disciple Hands
- Title Translation: 弟子手
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: The Xiangtangshan Caves located in the Fengfeng Mining District in Handan, Hebei Province, are clustered in two groups: Northern and Southern Xiangtangshan. They represent the finest of grotto art produced in the Northern Qi dynasty (550-577 CE). This pair of limestone hands originally belonged to the Middle Cave at Northern Xiangtangshan, constructed during the reign of Emperor Wenxuan (550-559) of the Northern Qi dynasty. The cave is a huge central-pillared cave with a corridor in front of a main chamber, the second largest of all caves at Xiangtangshan. Old pictures have shown that this fragmented piece originally belonged to the left acolyte disciple of a grouping featuring Śākyamuni Buddha flanked by two Bodhisattvas and two disciples in the large niche at the front of the central pillar. This disciple’s lean and rather aged face suggests that he is Mahākāśyapa, one of the ten principal disciples of Śākyamuni. He was deemed the foremost in ascetic dhūta practice. Before the Buddha passed away, he entrusted Mahākāśyapa with the task of imparting the Buddhist Dharma. After the Buddha entered parinirvāṇa, Mahākāśyapa became the head of the monastic community and convened the First Council at Rājagṛha for compiling Buddhist canon. Thereafter, he continued to lead the monastic community for more than two decades. Although fragmented, this work is amazingly realistic. The left hand with palm up is holding a reliquary, while the fingers of the right hand are pressing against the lid. Both hands are soft and fleshy, as if boneless. The fingers are nimble, and the curvature of each finger differs. It is worth noting that the carver did not illustrate the knuckles, but rather, greatly emphasising the softness and texture of the hands. The fingernails are also finely represented. The hands look fleshy but not chubby; the gesture natural and lively. Overall, the carver’s superb artistry is well demonstrated.
Bodhisattva Head
- Title Translation: 菩萨头
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: This bodhisattva head is believed to be from Cave 16 where many of the bodhisattvas had elaborately decorated crowns. This crown appears to have some damage and restoration.
Bodhisattva Standing
- Title Translation: 立菩萨
- Period: Tang, 618-907 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The figure once stood on the north wall of Cave 14 beside the seated Buddha. Its head is now in the Barnes Foundation.
Bodhisattva Head
- Title Translation: 菩萨头
- Period: unknown, unknown
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: Though attributed to the caves, the head is unlike others known to be from Tianlongshan. The smooth contour of the back indicates that it was not cut from the wall of a cave.
Bodhisattva Head
- Title Translation: 菩萨头
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The bodhisattva head wearing elaborate crown is possibly from Cave 16.
Buddha Head
- Title Translation: 佛头
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The handsome Buddha head is one of three from the main niches of Cave 16, created in the Northern Qi period.
Bodhisattva Standing
- Title Translation: 立菩萨
- Period: Tang, 618-907 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The bodhisattva, one of a pair of standing bodhisattvas from Cave 4, holds a loop of his long trailing scarf in one hand.
Bodhisattva Head
- Title Translation: 菩萨头
- Period: Sui, 581-618 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The head, from the north wall of Cave 8, was damaged and rather extensively repaired when acquired. The restored portions have since been removed.
Buddha Head
- Title Translation: 佛头
- Period: Tang, 618-907 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The head was quite deeply cut from the torso of the central Buddha on the north wall, which still remains in Cave 17.
Bodhisattva Head
- Title Translation: 菩萨头
- Period: Tang, 618-907 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The head is from the standing bodhisattva figure on the east wall of Cave 14.
Bodhisattva Head
- Title Translation: 菩萨头
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: is from a freestanding figure that was outside of the niche on the north wall of Cave 16.
Revolving Sutra Cabinet (Zhuanlun Jingzang, or Scripture Cabinet) in Sutra Hall (Zangdian, or Scripture Hall), crown and ceiling
- Title Translation: 藏殿转轮经藏 , 顶部和天花板
- Period: Ming, c. 1444 C.E.
- Project: Beijing Zhihua Temple
- Work Description: “Revolving Sutra Cabinet” (zhuanlun jingzang) is an octagonal sutra cabinet. It has a stone plinth supporting the wooden cabinets and does not revolve. A Vairocana Buddha seated on a lotus is positioned right at the center on top of the sutra cabinet. The off-center position of the sutra cabinet turns out to be a calculated decision, as it creates enough space and angle for a visitor to see the Vairocana Buddha right before s/he enters the hall.
Revolving Sutra Cabinet (Zhuanlun Jingzang, or Scripture Cabinet) in Sutra Hall (Zangdian, or Scripture Hall), elephant figure
- Title Translation: 藏殿转轮经藏 , 大象形象
- Period: Ming, c. 1444 C.E.
- Project: Beijing Zhihua Temple
- Work Description: “Revolving Sutra Cabinet” (zhuanlun jingzang) is an octagonal sutra cabinet. It has a stone plinth supporting the wooden cabinets and does not revolve. A Vairocana Buddha seated on a lotus is positioned right at the center on top of the sutra cabinet. The off-center position of the sutra cabinet turns out to be a calculated decision, as it creates enough space and angle for a visitor to see the Vairocana Buddha right before s/he enters the hall.
Revolving Sutra Cabinet (Zhuanlun Jingzang, or Scripture Cabinet) in Sutra Hall (Zangdian, or Scripture Hall), Vairocana Buddha
- Title Translation: 藏殿转轮经藏 , 毗卢遮那佛
- Period: Ming, c. 1444 C.E.
- Project: Beijing Zhihua Temple
- Work Description: “Revolving Sutra Cabinet” (zhuanlun jingzang) is an octagonal sutra cabinet. It has a stone plinth supporting the wooden cabinets and does not revolve. A Vairocana Buddha seated on a lotus is positioned right at the center on top of the sutra cabinet. The off-center position of the sutra cabinet turns out to be a calculated decision, as it creates enough space and angle for a visitor to see the Vairocana Buddha right before s/he enters the hall.