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1976 - 2000 of 2278 Records
Fengxian Temple (Fengxiansi)
- Title Translation: 奉先寺
- Period: Tang, 618–907 C.E.
- Project: Sculptures in Longmen 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.
Monster Kneeling, 3D model
- Title Translation: 跪鬼神 , 3D模型
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: This kneeling monster from the cave-temple complex at Xiangtangshan was originally placed below some wall niches on the perimeter. With its grotesque face and body, it is among the most imaginative sculptures of the period.
Monster Kneeling, 3D model
- Title Translation: 跪鬼神 , 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
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
- 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.
Lions Relief, 3D model
- Title Translation: 狮子浮雕 , 3D模型
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: Among the niches in this altar frontal that contain images of the Buddha, the scene at the top right is from the Lotus Sutra, a fundemental Mahayana Buddhist text. When this doctorine was preached by Sakyamuni, the Buddha of the present era, to a great assembly of celestial and earthly beings, the relics of Prabhutaratna, the Buddha of the past, arose and Prabhutaratna materialized. The relief carving also includes an incense burner between two seated lions. The lion as a Buddhist guardian figure has been a common motif in Chinese art since the introduction of Buddhism in China.
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
Monster Squatting Human, 3D model
- Title Translation: 鬼神蹲人 , 3D模型
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Guardian Torso, 3D model
- Title Translation: 天王、护法力士躯干 , 3D模型
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Monster Squatting Bird, 3D model
- Title Translation: 鬼神蹲鸟 , 3D模型
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Buddha Head, 3D model
- Title Translation: 佛头 , 3D模型
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Buddha Torso, 3D model
- Title Translation: 佛躯 , 3D模型
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Disciple Standing
- Title Translation: 弟子
- Period: Northern Qi, 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.
Musician Pipa
- Title Translation: 琵琶乐伎
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Bodhisattva Hand
- Title Translation: 菩萨手
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Monk Kneeling
- Title Translation: 跪僧侣
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: The North Xiangtangshan Grottoes are located in the Fengfeng mining district of Handan city, Hebei province. These caves are major Northern Qi dynasty caves that are thought to have been commissioned by imperial order. The South Cave of the grottoes was begun in 568, and the main surface and its two flanking walls are carved with large niches. This image is one of a pair of seated Buddhist priest figures carved in relief on either side of a large censer in the platform area of one of the side walls. The figure hunches over, with its mouth tightly closed as it holds something with both hands, exuding a particularly tranquil demeanor.
Bodhisattva Hand
- Title Translation: 菩萨手
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Disciple Hands
- Title Translation: 弟子手
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Guardian Head
- Title Translation: 天王、护法力士头
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Disciple Ananda Head
- Title Translation: 弟子阿难头
- 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
- Work Description: This free-standing Bodhisattva is related to the image style of the Xiangtangshan cave temples and stylistically dates to about the same time, ca. 560s–70s during the Northern Qi Dynasty in northeastern China. It possesses the characteristically columnar form of the Xiangtangshan sculptures, though the jewel forms appear slightly more subdued than usual. The posture is frontal and unbending, indicating, as with the Xiangtangshan sculptures in general, a sense of inner, irrevocable solidity and firmness. The human body is disclosed in its most primordial shape with thin, close-fitting robes smoothing out the surfaces. Jewelry makes its own symmetric patterns of heavy, raised, textured pearl chains, X-crossed in shape as they cover the frontal expanse and contrast with the sharp edges of the bands of the hems and long shoulder scarves that descend as a framing statement to the lotus pedestal. A youthful, serene face appears remote and distant, though still human, above the rather massive form. Impressive in its monumentality, this bodhisattva exemplifies the sixth-century style of early Buddhist art in China. He stands on a lotus pedestal, which signals his transcendent nature as a being that has surpassed the mundane human state in knowledge and compassion. The mass of his body and the equal distribution of weight on both feet impart an iconic quality to this object of worship.
Pratyekabuddha Standing
- Title Translation: 辟支(缘觉)佛立像
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
Bodhisattva Standing
- Title Translation: 菩萨立像
- Period: Sui, 581-518 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: Bodhisattva in standing position, head and hands turned away. Draped in a tightly enveloping dhoti and a long shawl, falling over the shoulders and arm, thin ornamental folds.
Bodhisattva Standing
- Title Translation: 菩萨立像
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: Carved out of one piece of stone, this bodhisattva stands barefooted on a base and wears a long gown, ornate jewelry, and a large rosette-shaped crown. The rounded, solid form and the solemn facial expression convey the deity's grace and compassion, and mark an artistic departure from the foreign influence of India and Central Asia toward a new, distinguished Chinese style. This statue comes from Xiangtangshan (Mountains of Resounding Halls), a Buddhist cave complex built on a hillside near Handan in Hebei province, and is one of the earliest Buddhist statues built in this complex. Its construction was funded by Emperor Gao Yang of the Northern Qi dynasty.