Open Collections

Niches 263, 264, 269, and 270, 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. Niche 263 is damaged. Niche 264 has the remains of an image on the middle wall. Niche 269 depicts an octagonal pillar. A pair of dragons are carved near its bottom, and its upper layers are decorated with several small figures. The left upper corner of the niche frame also has a small seated figure. The pillar’s body is carved with the text of the Sutra of the Victorious Buddha-Crown Mantra (Chinese: fo ding zun sheng tuo luo ni jing 佛頂尊勝陀羅尼經, Sanskrit: Uṣṇīṣavijaya dhāraṇīsūtra), dated to 907-965 CE (後蜀). Source: Dazu shike yanjiuyuan 大足石刻研究院. Dazu shike quanji 大足石刻全集 [Dazu Rock Carvings] Edited by Li Fangyin 黎方銀. 10 vols. Vol. 3-1, Chongqing: Chongqing chubanshe, 2018, p. 296. Niche 270 depicts a seated Buddha image flanked by two standing disciples and two standing bodhisattvas. The Buddha, with a circular body halo and a peach-shaped head halo, is seated on a lotus throne with crossed legs. He holds a bowl in front of his belly. The two disciples have circular halos. The one on the Buddha's right side joins his hands to form an Añjali Mudras (Chinese: 合十). The bodhisattvas have circular halos trimmed with flame patterns. The left has a lotus stem, while the right holds a wish-granting sceptre (Chinese: ruyi 如意). The remains of a canopy and musical instruments are found on the niche ceiling. Moreover, the lintel has several small figures. Descriptions of the photos: Key to the niches [1]. Overview of the niches [2]. Metadata created by: Sau Ling Wendy Yu.

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

chi

Cluster 3.4: Typologies of Text-Image Relations

Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library

10.14288/1.0433206

Non UBC

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