Open Collections

Niches 220-236, Beishan Rock Carvings (北山石刻)

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

This complex of niches is located in Beishan Rock Carvings (北山石刻), Fowan (佛灣), Dazu (大足) District, Chongqing. Most all images are severely eroded. Niche 220: A seated Buddha image flanked by eighteen seated arhat figures. With a peach-shaped halo, the Buddha is seated with cross legs on a lotus throne. All arhats have circular halos. They are seated on rock thrones. Niche 221: The middle wall depicts two standing bodhisattvas with circular halos. Either side of the niche frame contains two small shrines. Each shrine has a small figure. Niche 222: A seated image flanked by two standing figures. All of them are badly damaged. Niche 223: A standing image whose upper body is lost. Niche 224: A four-armed bodhisattva flanked by a pair of standing figures. The pair of upper hands hold circular plates decorated with auspicious cloud motifs while the two lower hands grip edges of a shawl. Niche 225: A standing bodhisattva with a lost head carries a water vase in the left hand. Niche 226: A bodhisattva standing on a lotus pedestal. Niche 227: A standing Buddha with a peach-shaped halo trimmed with flame patterns. The left hand holds a bowl, while the right carries a staff. Niche 228: Two bodhisattvas standing on lotus pedestals are depicted on the middle wall. The right edge of the niche frame has three small shrines. The upper and middle one contains two pairs of standing figures, while the lower one has one image. Niche 229: This niche is severely eroded. Portions of a central figure flanked by five images on either side remain. Niche 229-1: This niche is severely eroded. The remains of a central figure are present. Niche 230: A seated Buddha image flanked by two seated bodhisattvas is depicted. Ten standing images of disciples are placed behind them. A canopy is carved on the ceiling above the Buddha. There are the remains of guardian deities on either side of the niche frame. Niche 231: A standing Buddha flanked with two bodhisattvas is depicted in the middle wall. The Buddha carries a staff in his right hand. Niche 232: This niche is severely eroded, with only the remains of a central figure. Niche 233: A standing bodhisattva with a peach-shaped halo. The bodhisattva carries a stem with a lotus bud in both hands. Niche 234: Two standing bodhisattvas are depicted on the middle wall. The right edge of the niche frame has two small shrines, each containing two standing figures. The left edge has another standing figure. Niche 235: The middle wall depicts a forty-two-armed bodhisattva seated in a European posture. Each extant hand holds an object or forms a mudra. The bodhisattva is flanked by two kneeling figures. The upper part of either side wall has a feitian 飛天 (Sanskrit: apsaras) on an auspicious cloud. A standing image is carved below each feitian. Niche 236: This is an empty niche. Descriptions of the photos: Key to the niches [1]. Overview of the niches [2, 3, 4]. Close-up of Niche 221 [5, 6]. Close-up of Niches 223, 225, 227 and 230 [7]. Close-up of Niche 224 [8]. Middle part of the complex [9, 10]. Upper part of the complex [11]. 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

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10.14288/1.0433197

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