Votive Stela of Śākyamuni Buddha and Attendant Bodhisattvas
- Culture
- Chinese
- Dynasty
- Northern Wei dynasty, 386–534 CE
- Date
- 505
- associated with
- Weihui, Henan province, China, Asia
- Classification
- Sculpture, stone & mineral
- Collection
- Asian Art
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 231
- Dimensions
- 74 x 28 1/2 x 10 1/8 in. (188 x 72.4 x 25.7 cm)
weight: 1946 lb. (882.7 kg) - Credit Line
- Museum Purchase
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 38:1936
NOTES
The central figure of Śākyamuni (Shijiamouni), the historical Buddha whose halo depicts lotus petals, dominates this stela. This main figure is flanked by the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (Guanyin), whose left hand holds a flask, and the Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta (Dashizhi), whose hands are clasped together. Each bodhisattva is supported by an open lotus blossom. The gray limestone was originally painted in vibrant colors.
Eighty devotees from Chongli village, Ji county, Henan province, commissioned the sculpture as an act of piety. It is dated to 505, the second year of the Zhengshi reign period (504–508) of Emperor Xuanwu (r. 499–515). This ruler was a devout Buddhist, and during his reign, Buddhism effectively became the state religion.
Eighty devotees from Chongli village, Ji county, Henan province, commissioned the sculpture as an act of piety. It is dated to 505, the second year of the Zhengshi reign period (504–508) of Emperor Xuanwu (r. 499–515). This ruler was a devout Buddhist, and during his reign, Buddhism effectively became the state religion.
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