Open Collections

Niche 254, 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 middle wall depicts a seated Buddha flanked by two seated bodhisattvas. The Buddha image has a circular body halo and a peach-shaped head halo trimmed with flame patterns. He is seated on a lotus throne with crossed legs, and his hands form a meditation mudra. A pair of bodhi trees are carved behind his back, and the tree canopy extends to the ceiling. The two bodhisattvas are also seated on lotus thrones in a Lalitasana posture, one leg crossed and another stepping on a lotus. The thrones are decorated with a pair of lotus on their front side. The design of the two bodhisattvas’ halos is similar to those of the Buddha. Besides, both wear crowns with curling tendril motifs. The bodhisattva on the left has a pearl on the left hand. Two groups of figures are placed in auspicious clouds on either side wall. The upper group has three standing figures, while the lower group contains five kneeling figures. They wear the attire of government officials. Inscriptions in both upper groups indicate that those images are judges (panguan 判官). Moreover, an image in the lower group of the left side wall contain the name Yang Wenxing 楊文興. 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, pp. 255-256. Two small standing figures are carved on the right niche frame. Furthermore, musical instruments with ribbons tieing on them are depicted on the niche ceiling. Descriptions of the photos: Overview of the niche [1, 2]. Surrounding environment [3]. 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

10.14288/1.0433232

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