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Bodhisattva Relief
- Title Translation: 菩萨浮雕
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The bodhisattva is Manjusri and would have been situated in Cave 3 opposite the relief figure of Vimalakirti.
Bodhisattva Relief
- Title Translation: 菩萨浮雕
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The heavenly divinity carved in relief is holding a bowl in the gesture of offering.
Bodhisattva Relief
- Title Translation: 菩萨浮雕
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The figure stands in a pose of reverence to the sculpted Buddha and bodhisattvas in the niche on the west wall of Cave 3.
Guardian Standing
- Title Translation: 天王、护法力士立像
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The site of Tianlongshan Caves is located about 40 kilometres southwest of Taiyuan city in Shanxi Province. 25 caves have survived to this day. Taiyuan, historically called Jinyang, was the auxiliary capital of the Eastern Wei (534-550 CE) and Northern Qi (550-577 CE) dynasties. The royal members of the Northern Qi were devout Buddhists. Emperors Houzhu (565-577 CE) and Youzhu (570-578 CE) had many Buddhist monasteries constructed in Jinyang, which made this capital a Buddhist centre in addition to a political hub of the time. This Heavenly King (Lokapāla) statue of the Northern Qi dynasty originally belonged to Tianlongshan Cave 10, which has a front corridor and a rear chamber. Its head formerly belonged to the Vajrapāṇibalin standing on the west side of the corridor, while the body of the Heavenly King originally stood on the west side of the front wall inside the cave. The head of the statue is carved with tightly knitted eyebrows, round bulging eyes, a high straight nose, a gaping mouth showing the upper teeth biting the lower lip, tense cubic face muscles, and a fierce and very spirited countenance. The low regal crown on the head is finely carved with motifs featuring wish-fulfilling gems, scrolling clouds and tassels. Old photographs showing the original appearance of this Heavenly King reveal that he previously had a long-shaft trident spear in his right hand and a jewelled crown on his head. The right knee is flexed, but left leg is straight – hinting a sense of motion, where the feet are on a hill-shaped pedestal with a demon crouching at the front. The upper body is bare apart from a torc over the chest, some string-like criss-cross ornaments around his neck and waist, and a streamer around the shoulders. The lower body is wrapped in a long skirt girded by a leather belt. Traces of red pigment are still visible on the surface of the present statue. This statue was stolen from the cave and taken to Japan in the early 20th century. In 1932, it was exhibited by Yamanaka & Co. Ltd in Japan. Later, it was acquired by Yurinkan Museum in Kyoto and then by a private collector in Taiwan. The chequered and proven provenance has made this extremely rare Heavenly King statue of the Northern Dynasties even rarer. It is among the gems of our Museum collection.
Bodhisattva Relief
- Title Translation: 菩萨浮雕
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The relief sculpture is a composite of numerous fragments.
Guardian Standing
- Title Translation: 天王、护法力士立像
- Period: Tang, 618-907 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The muscular body and fierce expression of this door guardian from Cave 17 create a vivid impression of strength.
Flying Divinity
- Title Translation: 飞天
- Period: unknown, unknown
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The flying figure is very similar to apsarases from Caves 2 and 3, but it cannot be attributed to any known cave.
Flying Divinity
- Title Translation: 飞天
- Period: unknown, unknown
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The flying divinity carving is not known to be from any existing cave at Tianlongshan.
Flying Divinity
- Title Translation: 飞天
- Period: unknown, unknown
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The flying divinity is attributed to Tianlongshan, but it is not known to be from any existing cave at the site.
Lion Torso
- Title Translation: 狮身
- Period: Tang, 618-907 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The lion is believed to be the mount of the bodhisattva Manjusri formerly in Cave 20.
Flying Divinity
- Title Translation: 飞天
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The fluttering scarves and clouds surrounding the figure give it a sense of flight and movement.
Flying Divinity
- Title Translation: 飞天
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The heavenly figure in flight looking backward is from the ceiling of Cave 3.
Disciple Relief
- Title Translation: 弟子浮雕
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The elderly disciple Kasyapa, together with the youthful Ananda, represent the Buddha's initial monastic followers.
Flying Divinity
- Title Translation: 飞天
- Period: unknown, unknown
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The flying divinity playing a drum is not known to be from any existing Tianlongshan cave.
Disciple Relief
- Title Translation: 弟子浮雕
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: Two figures of disciples, one youthful and one elderly, frequently appear together as attendants of the Buddha.
Disciple Relief
- Title Translation: 弟子浮雕
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The elderly disciple Kasyapa holds an incense burner in his hands.
Devotee Relief
- Title Translation: 信徒浮雕
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The devotees hold an incense burner and long-stemmed lotus buds as offerings.
Guardian Head
- Title Translation: 天王、护法力士头
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The head is from one of the military-looking guardian figures on the west side of the porch outside of Cave 16.
Guardian Standing
- Title Translation: 天王、护法力士立像
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The figure is from the south wall west side of Cave 10. Its head is not original.
Guardian Head
- Title Translation: 天王、护法力士头
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The head with frowning expression comes from a guardian figure on the south wall of Cave 10 in Tianlongshan.
Disciple Relief
- Title Translation: 弟子浮雕
- Period: unknown, unknown
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The relief figure, though called a monk, has a Buddha's head. It may be a composite assemblage of fragments with restorations.
Guardian Head
- Title Translation: 天王、护法力士头
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The head is from a guardian figure on the east side of the entrance porch of Cave 16. It is currently matched with a body of unknown origin.
Flying Divinity
- Title Translation: 飞天
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The heavenly musician from the ceiling of Cave 16 plays a pipa or lute-like instrument.