Showing
2801 - 2825 of 3754 Records
Fengxian Temple (Fengxiansi)
- Title Translation: 奉先寺
- Period: Tang, 618–907 C.E.
- Project: Longmen Other Caves
- Work Description: This imposing group of nine monumental images carved into the hard, gray limestone of Fengxian Temple at Longmen is a spectacular display of innovative style and iconography. Sponsored by the Emperor Gaozong and his wife, the future Empress Wu, the high relief sculptures are widely spaced in a semi-circle. The central Vairocana Buddha (more than 55 feet high including its pedestal) is flanked on either side by a bodhisattva, a heavenly king, and a thunderbolt holder (vajrapani). Vairocana represents the primordial Buddha who generates and presides over all the Buddhas of the infinite universes that form Buddhist cosmology. This idea—of the power of one supreme deity over all the others—resonated in the vast Tang Empire which was dominated by the Emperor at its summit and supported by his subordinate officials. These monumental sculptures intentionally mirrored the political situation. The dignity and imposing presence of Buddha and the sumptuous appearance of his attendant bodhisattvas is significant in this context. The Buddha, monks and bodhisattvas (above) display new softer and rounder modeling and serene facial expressions. In contrast, the heavenly guardians and the vajrapani are more engaging and animated. Notice the realistic musculature of the heavenly guardians and the forceful poses of the vajrapani.
Fengxian Temple (Fengxiansi)
- Title Translation: 奉先寺
- Period: Tang, 618–907 C.E.
- Project: Longmen Other Caves
- Work Description: This imposing group of nine monumental images carved into the hard, gray limestone of Fengxian Temple at Longmen is a spectacular display of innovative style and iconography. Sponsored by the Emperor Gaozong and his wife, the future Empress Wu, the high relief sculptures are widely spaced in a semi-circle. The central Vairocana Buddha (more than 55 feet high including its pedestal) is flanked on either side by a bodhisattva, a heavenly king, and a thunderbolt holder (vajrapani). Vairocana represents the primordial Buddha who generates and presides over all the Buddhas of the infinite universes that form Buddhist cosmology. This idea—of the power of one supreme deity over all the others—resonated in the vast Tang Empire which was dominated by the Emperor at its summit and supported by his subordinate officials. These monumental sculptures intentionally mirrored the political situation. The dignity and imposing presence of Buddha and the sumptuous appearance of his attendant bodhisattvas is significant in this context. The Buddha, monks and bodhisattvas (above) display new softer and rounder modeling and serene facial expressions. In contrast, the heavenly guardians and the vajrapani are more engaging and animated. Notice the realistic musculature of the heavenly guardians and the forceful poses of the vajrapani.
Fengxian Temple (Fengxiansi)
- Title Translation: 奉先寺
- Period: Tang, 618–907 C.E.
- Project: Longmen Other Caves
- Work Description: This imposing group of nine monumental images carved into the hard, gray limestone of Fengxian Temple at Longmen is a spectacular display of innovative style and iconography. Sponsored by the Emperor Gaozong and his wife, the future Empress Wu, the high relief sculptures are widely spaced in a semi-circle. The central Vairocana Buddha (more than 55 feet high including its pedestal) is flanked on either side by a bodhisattva, a heavenly king, and a thunderbolt holder (vajrapani). Vairocana represents the primordial Buddha who generates and presides over all the Buddhas of the infinite universes that form Buddhist cosmology. This idea—of the power of one supreme deity over all the others—resonated in the vast Tang Empire which was dominated by the Emperor at its summit and supported by his subordinate officials. These monumental sculptures intentionally mirrored the political situation. The dignity and imposing presence of Buddha and the sumptuous appearance of his attendant bodhisattvas is significant in this context. The Buddha, monks and bodhisattvas (above) display new softer and rounder modeling and serene facial expressions. In contrast, the heavenly guardians and the vajrapani are more engaging and animated. Notice the realistic musculature of the heavenly guardians and the forceful poses of the vajrapani.
Fengxian Temple (Fengxiansi)
- Title Translation: 奉先寺
- Period: Tang, 618–907 C.E.
- Project: Longmen Other Caves
- Work Description: This imposing group of nine monumental images carved into the hard, gray limestone of Fengxian Temple at Longmen is a spectacular display of innovative style and iconography. Sponsored by the Emperor Gaozong and his wife, the future Empress Wu, the high relief sculptures are widely spaced in a semi-circle. The central Vairocana Buddha (more than 55 feet high including its pedestal) is flanked on either side by a bodhisattva, a heavenly king, and a thunderbolt holder (vajrapani). Vairocana represents the primordial Buddha who generates and presides over all the Buddhas of the infinite universes that form Buddhist cosmology. This idea—of the power of one supreme deity over all the others—resonated in the vast Tang Empire which was dominated by the Emperor at its summit and supported by his subordinate officials. These monumental sculptures intentionally mirrored the political situation. The dignity and imposing presence of Buddha and the sumptuous appearance of his attendant bodhisattvas is significant in this context. The Buddha, monks and bodhisattvas (above) display new softer and rounder modeling and serene facial expressions. In contrast, the heavenly guardians and the vajrapani are more engaging and animated. Notice the realistic musculature of the heavenly guardians and the forceful poses of the vajrapani.
Fengxian Temple (Fengxiansi)
- Title Translation: 奉先寺
- Period: Tang, 618–907 C.E.
- Project: Longmen Other Caves
- Work Description: This imposing group of nine monumental images carved into the hard, gray limestone of Fengxian Temple at Longmen is a spectacular display of innovative style and iconography. Sponsored by the Emperor Gaozong and his wife, the future Empress Wu, the high relief sculptures are widely spaced in a semi-circle. The central Vairocana Buddha (more than 55 feet high including its pedestal) is flanked on either side by a bodhisattva, a heavenly king, and a thunderbolt holder (vajrapani). Vairocana represents the primordial Buddha who generates and presides over all the Buddhas of the infinite universes that form Buddhist cosmology. This idea—of the power of one supreme deity over all the others—resonated in the vast Tang Empire which was dominated by the Emperor at its summit and supported by his subordinate officials. These monumental sculptures intentionally mirrored the political situation. The dignity and imposing presence of Buddha and the sumptuous appearance of his attendant bodhisattvas is significant in this context. The Buddha, monks and bodhisattvas (above) display new softer and rounder modeling and serene facial expressions. In contrast, the heavenly guardians and the vajrapani are more engaging and animated. Notice the realistic musculature of the heavenly guardians and the forceful poses of the vajrapani.
Disciple, 3D model
- Title Translation: 弟子
- Period: Sui Dynasty, 589-618 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: “Expressing serene dignity, these youthful monks stand erect, their eyes downcast and hands firmly joined in reverent prayer. Their long earlobes allude to earrings that were worn by the Buddha as a young Indian prince and to his rejection of material wealth. Characteristic of Sui dynasty sculpture, the monks’ sharply defined facial features and the folds of their robes enhance the figures’ flat, understated modeling. Each of their robes was originally painted with rectangles of different colors, signifying the patchwork mantle worn by the Buddha and by pious monks who emulated his humble values. Only shadowy traces of these pigments are now evident.” — Art Institute of Chicago, Monk, accessed February 28, 2025, https://www.artic.edu/artworks/11094/monk.
Capital music from the Zhihua Temple (Zhihuasi Jing yinyue), music performance
- Title Translation: 智化寺京音乐 , 音乐表演
- Period: Ming, Qing, c. 1444 C.E.
- Project: Beijing Zhihua Temple
- Work Description: Benefiting from Wang Zhen’s unprecedented power at the court, the temple was able to hire skilled monk musicians to play during Buddhist ceremonies and other ritual activities for the members of the court. However, with Wang’s death in 1449, the temple lost its prestigious status, and during Emperor Jingdi’s reign (1450-1456), the monks began to perform ritual music outside the temple to make a living. Thus Capital music of Zhihua Temple also became popular among the people. When Emperor Yingzong retook the throne in 1457, he at once set out to honor Wang Zhen with statues and steles and rituals performed at the temple. The music of Zhihua Temple gradually increased in importance. The comprehensive instrumental ensemble, rigorous training, and elegant performance style of the Zhihua Temple’s music group inspired other temples in Beijing through the succeeding Qing. During the reign of Emperors Daoguang and Xianfeng (1821-1861), Zhihua Temple became such a center for Beijing music that spread to numerous temples in the region including but not limited to: Tianxian Nunnery, Chengshou Temple, Shuiyue Nunnery, Dizang Temple, Xizhao Temple, Guandi Temple, Huoshen Temple, Jiuding Niangniang Temple, and Puning Temple. Jing ceremonial music consists of three parts: vocalization of text, wind instruments, and percussion instruments, called by monk musicians the “three gateways.” The most prominent of these is the musical gateway of the wind instruments that greatly distinguished capital music of Zhihua Temple from other temple music or folk music performance. The Jing music ensemble of the Zhihua Temple is composed of nine performers and thirteen or fourteen musical instruments, including two pipes, two flutes, two sheng, two sets of cloud chimes, one drum, a set of small cymbals, 2 mounted gongs, two larger cymbals (nao and bo) and a bell. Several members of the troupe will play more than one instrument during a performance.
Guardian Lion
- Title Translation: 唐龍門浮雕石獅子
- Period: Tang, 618–907 C.E.
- Project: Longmen Other Caves
- Work Description: Provenance: Wanfo (Ten Thousand Buddha) Cave, Longmen Caves, Luoyang, China [see note 1]; about 1930, removed from Wanfo Cave by local stonemasons, including Wang Kui and sold, probably by Ma Longtu (antiques dealer), Luoyang, to a Beijing dealer [see note 2]. By 1931, C. T. Loo and Co., New York [see note 3]; 1940, sold by Loo to the MFA. (Accession Date: March 7, 1940)NOTES: [1] Photographed in situ in 1907 or 1908 and published by Edouard Chavannes, Mission Archeologique dans la Chine Septentrionale (Paris, 1909), no. 305, pl. CLXXXII. The companion lion is in the collection of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. [2] According to Gong Dazhong, Longmen Shiku Yishu (The Art of Longmen Caves) (Beijing: Renmin Meishu Chubanshe, 2002), pp. 58-60. [3] Dealer C. T. Loo lent the lion to the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University from December 2, 1931 until September 1935.
Disciple Ananda Head, 3D model
- Title Translation: 弟子阿难头 , 3D模型
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Western Paradise, 3D model
- Title Translation: 西方极乐世界 , 3D模型
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: High relief carving of Western Paradise. Amitabha presides over a lotus pond that contains flowers opening to reveal newborn souls. Numerous deities and celestial attendants fill in the tableau.
Guardian King, 3D model
- Title Translation: 天王、护法力士 , 3D模型
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
River Spirit King, 3D model
- Title Translation: 河灵王 , 3D模型
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Pratyekabuddha Head, 3D model
- Title Translation: 辟支(缘觉)佛头 , 3D模型
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Monster Kneeling, 3D model
- Title Translation: 跪鬼神 , 3D模型
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Disciple Ananda Standing, 3D model
- Title Translation: 弟子阿难立像 , 3D模型
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Bodhisattva Head
- Title Translation: 菩萨头
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: Head of the Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta (Dashizhi)
Monster Kneeling
- Title Translation: 跪鬼神
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Bodhisattva Standing
- Title Translation: 菩萨立像
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Heavenly Buddhist Gathering
- Title Translation: 天道会
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
River Spirit King
- Title Translation: 河灵王
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Seated Atlante
- Title Translation: 坐男像柱
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Musician Panpipes
- Title Translation: 排箫乐伎
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Buddha Head
- Title Translation: 佛头
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: Stone head of Buddha. Stone with traces of pigment. The long earlobes of the Buddha are a reminder of the heavy earrings that he wore before renouncing material things to seek enlightenment. His rounded cheeks are meant to resemble those of a lion, an animal that is praised for its power and associated with Sakyamuni, the historical Buddha. The ushnisha, or cranial protuberance which may have originally been based on a topknot or turban, is considered a mark of wisdom. The urna, or marking on the forehead, is an all seeing eye. Finally the wavy hair of the Buddha suggests Greco Roman influence a departure from the conventional curls typical of Chinese sculptures at the time.