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Seated Buddha statue accompanied by statues of disciples, bodhisattvas and donors, Niche 105, Beishan Rock Carvings (北山石刻)

From the Ground Up: Buddhism & East Asian Religions (FROGBEAR Project)

This niche is located in Beishan Rock Carvings (北山石刻), Fowan (佛灣), Dazu (大足) District, Chongqing. The central wall contains three layers of statues. The top layer depicts a seated Buddha flanked by two standing disciples. The Buddha image in a double-collar drooping cassock is seated with crossed legs on a lotus throne. His right hand is placed in front of his chest while his left hand touches his left knee. The peach-shaped halo behind his head and the circular halo of his body are decorative with flame patterns. Four lines representing the light emitted by the Buddha extend from the tip of the head halo to the niche ceiling. A disciple image is depicted on either side of the Buddha statue. Both wear cross-collar robes and have circular halos. The one on the Buddha’s right side holds an Añjali Mudra (Chinese: heshi 合十), while the one on the left cups one hand in the other before his chest. The middle layer of the central wall depicts four bodhisattvas standing on lotus pedestals. Their heads are damaged, and their bodies are severely eroded. The centre of the bottom layer has a square altar. A six-storey pagoda and a monk-like figure are depicted on its left side. On the right side, there is another monk-like figure. The left side wall of this niche also has three layers of statues. The top layer is badly eroded. A bodhisattva is seated on a lotus throne above a lion flanked by two attendants. The servant taming the lion is depicted on the beast’s back. Another attendant is placed in front of the lion. The middle layer has three standing bodhisattva statues, and the design is similar to those on the central wall., The bottom layer depicts six small figures, probably donor images. All are severely eroded. Only the middle and the bottom layers of the right side wall remain. The middle layer’s setting is identical to the left side wall, and the three bodhisattva images are severely eroded. The bottom layer contains four donor images and a thatched cottage-like object. Descriptions of the photos: Overview of the niche [1] Close-up of the central wall [2] Close-up of the left side wall [3] Close-up of the right side wall [4] Metadata created by: Sau Ling Wendy Yu.

Chongqing (China)); Dazu Qu (Chongqing, China); 29.71282; 105.71016

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Cluster 3.4: Typologies of Text-Image Relations

Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library

10.14288/1.0433142

Non UBC

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