Showing
1 - 25 of 48 Records
Finial Phoenix
- Title Translation: 凤凰
- Period: Sui, 581-618 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The finely carved piece is part of a phoenix that once stood on top of a column beside the entrance of Cave 8.
Flying Divinity
- Title Translation: 飞天
- Period: unknown, unknown
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The divinity is carved in unusually high relief and is not known to be from any existing Tianlongshan cave.
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 figure dressed in military garb, formerly standing inside Cave 16 on the east side of the entrance.
Dragon Finial
- Title Translation: 龙顶
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The head of a dragon is a finial from the top of a column in Cave 2.
Flying Divinity
- Title Translation: 飞天
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: This heavenly musician from Cave16 plays the sheng, a wind instrument consisting of a cluster of bamboo pipes joined at the bottom.
Bodhisattva Relief
- Title Translation: 菩萨浮雕
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The bodhisattva Manjusri was located on the east wall of Cave 2 near the front of the cave, opposite a relief figure of Vimalakirti.
Guardian Head
- Title Translation: 天王、护法力士头
- Period: Tang, 618-907 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The guardian head is from an unknown location.
Devotee Relief
- Title Translation: 信徒浮雕
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: A single donor/worshiper dressed in a robe with wide sleeves walks holding a large lotus flower bud on a curving stem.
Flying Divinity
- Title Translation: 飞天
- Period: unknown, unknown
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The rather high relief carving of a heavenly musician playing a lute is not known to be from any existing Tianlongshan cave.
Musician
- Title Translation: 乐伎
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: This is the upper part of a musician playing the panpipes that was seated at the base of the Buddha niche on the east wall of Cave 16.
Bodhisattva Relief
- Title Translation: 菩萨浮雕
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The bodhisattva seated in contemplation under a tree represents the awakening of the youthful Prince Sakyamuni's awareness of the suffering of life.
Flying Divinity
- Title Translation: 飞天
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The flying divinity or apsaras is one of four such figures carved in relief around a a large central lotus blossom on the ceiling of Cave 2.
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.
Flying Divinity
- Title Translation: 飞天
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The flying divinity hovering above clouds is one of four such figures carved in relief on 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 youthful disciple appears to have a pinch of incense in his right hand to place in the censer of the elderly disciple on the opposite wall of Cave 3.
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.
Finial Birds
- Title Translation: 瑞鸟
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: These birds came from the north wall of Cave 16 where they flanked the main group of Buddhist figures in the niche.
Finial Bird
- Title Translation: 瑞鸟
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The bird once stood at the top of a column on the north wall of Cave 16 looking back toward the Buddha image.
Vimalakirti Relief
- Title Translation: 维摩诘浮雕
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The wise layman Vimalakirti sits holding a fan and originally faced the bodhisattva Manjusri, on the opposite wall of Cave 3.
Flying Divinity
- Title Translation: 飞天
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: As in many cases, the relief carving was broken into fragments when removed from Cave 2 and shows signs of repairs.
Flying Divinity
- Title Translation: 飞天
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The flying divinity or apsaras holds an alms bowl over its head.
Flying Divinity
- Title Translation: 飞天
- Period: Eastern Wei, 534-550 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The figure in flight among clouds holds an alms bowl up behind it.