Xiangtangshan Caves

The complex of Buddhist caves of Xiangtangshan (“Mountain of Echoing Halls”) and their stone sculptures and engraved inscriptions were considered a central achievement of the period, created near the Northern Qi capital with official sponsorship. The Xiangtangshan Caves collection focuses on the cave sites and the works of art that are dispersed outside of China.

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Showing  1 - 1 of 1 Records
Monk, 3D model
  • Title Translation:
  • Period: Sui Dynasty, 589 CE–618 CE
  • Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
  • Work Description: “Expressing serene dignity, these youthful monks stand erect, their eyes downcast and hands firmly joined in reverent prayer. Their long earlobes allude to earrings that were worn by the Buddha as a young Indian prince and to his rejection of material wealth. Characteristic of Sui dynasty sculpture, the monks’ sharply defined facial features and the folds of their robes enhance the figures’ flat, understated modeling. Each of their robes was originally painted with rectangles of different colors, signifying the patchwork mantle worn by the Buddha and by pious monks who emulated his humble values. Only shadowy traces of these pigments are now evident.” — Art Institute of Chicago, Monk, accessed February 28, 2025, https://www.artic.edu/artworks/11094/monk.