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A central figure flanked by two disciples, two bodhisattvas and sixteen arhats Niche 63 and 63-1, the southern cliff (南岩), Yuanjue Cave (圓覺洞)

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

Niches 63 and 63-1 are located in the southern cliff (南岩) of Yuanjue Cave Cliff Sculpture Scenic Area (圓覺洞摩崖造像風景區), Yujishan (雲居山), situated in the northeast of Anyue County (安岳縣), Ziyang City (資陽巿), Sichuan. The southern cliff contains fifty-eight niches (Niches 15 to 72) of rock carvings, mostly dating from the Tang Dynasty 唐 (618-907) to the Five Dynasties 五代 (907-960). Niche 63: The ceiling of this niche is destroyed. The central figure is severely eroded. Only traces of a figure seated on a Sumeru throne with crossed legs remain. The two standing disciples flanking the central figure are also destroyed, with only a pair of bare feet standing on a pedestal from the desciple on the right remaing . The two bodhisattvas on either side of the triad above are also damaged. The left one is unrecognizable, and there is an apparent crack between this figure and the damaged disciple figure on its right side. The right bodhisattva, which sits in a European posture, is heavily eroded. The sixteen arhats are evenly distributed in two layers on either side of the middle and the two side walls. They are all in seated postures with small human figures and water vases depicted in front of them. Those arhats on the right side of the niche are better preserved. Niche 63-1: This small niche is outside the frame of Niche 63’s left side wall. It contains a standing figure, probably a bodhisattva and a small donor image on its left side. Descriptions of the photos: Key to the niches [Image 01]. Close-up of the right side of Niche 63 [Image 02]. Close-up of the left side of the Niche 63 and Niche 63-1 [Image 03]. Surrounding environment of the niches [Image 04]. Metadata created by: Sau Ling Wendy Yu.

Anyue Xian (China); Sichuan Sheng (China); 30.11723; 105.3504

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Cluster 3.4: Typologies of Text-Image Relations

Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library

10.14288/1.0438603

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