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Lower Guangsheng Temple, back hall (or Daxiong Bodian), mural fragment
- Title Translation: 广胜下寺 , 后殿 (即大雄宝殿), 壁画碎片
- Period: Eastern Han, Yuan, 147 C.E., 1271-1368 C.E.
- Project: Guangsheng Temple Murals
- Work Description: The lower temple is made up by the temple gate, front hall, back hall (or Daxiong Temple), the buttress hall and other buildings that were all built in the Yuan Dynasty. The temple gate is rather high. It is 3-bay wide and 3-bay long with single-eaved gable and hip roof. Canopies added to the front and back eaves make it like a pavilion with double eaves. The front hall is five-bay wide with only two pillars supporting the whole hall. The back hall (or Daxiong Temple) was built in the second year (1309) of the Zhida reign of the Yuan Dynasty. It is 7-bay wide with 9 purlins, 8 rafters and a single-eaved overhanging gable roof. The main statues in the hall are Amitabha Buddha, Sakyamuni Buddha, Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, Manjusri Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. They were all made in the Yuan Dynasty. Murals were once covered on the walls, but they were removed and shipped to the United States in 1928. The mural on the south wall recorded the performance of Yuan Drama. It is rare reference material for study on Chinese dramas.
147
1368
1368
Lower Guangsheng Temple, front hall (or former Buddha's Temple), interior
- Title Translation: 广胜下寺 , 前殿(或前佛寺)、内部
- Period: Eastern Han, Yuan, 147 C.E., 1271-1368 C.E.
- Project: Guangsheng Temple Murals
- Work Description: The lower temple is made up by the temple gate, front hall, back hall (or Daxiong Temple), the buttress hall and other buildings that were all built in the Yuan Dynasty. The temple gate is rather high. It is 3-bay wide and 3-bay long with single-eaved gable and hip roof. Canopies added to the front and back eaves make it like a pavilion with double eaves. The front hall is five-bay wide with only two pillars supporting the whole hall. The back hall (or Daxiong Temple) was built in the second year (1309) of the Zhida reign of the Yuan Dynasty. It is 7-bay wide with 9 purlins, 8 rafters and a single-eaved overhanging gable roof. The main statues in the hall are Amitabha Buddha, Sakyamuni Buddha, Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, Manjusri Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. They were all made in the Yuan Dynasty. Murals were once covered on the walls, but they were removed and shipped to the United States in 1928. The mural on the south wall recorded the performance of Yuan Drama. It is rare reference material for study on Chinese dramas.
147
1368
1368
Upper Guangsheng Temple, Vairocana Hall (or Pilu Temple or Tianzhongtian Temple), Buddha Triad
- Title Translation: 广胜上寺 , 毗卢殿(或毗卢寺或天中天寺), 佛三尊
- Period: Eastern Han, Ming, 147 C.E., 1368-1644 C.E.
- Project: Guangsheng Temple Murals
- Work Description: The upper temple complex comprises the mountain gate, the Flying Rainbow Tower, the Amitabha Hall, the Great Hall, the Vairochana Hall, the Kwan-yin Hall, the Ksitigarbha Hall, as well as wing-rooms and corridors, among other features. The Mountain Gate, situated at the entrance, is flanked by two guardian warriors. Just beyond the gate stands the impressive Flying Rainbow Tower, constructed from colored glaze bricks. Originally built during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) and later restored in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), this thirteen-story tower soars to a height of 47.31 meters, featuring an octagonal plan. The tower is adorned with tri-colored glaze in yellow, green, and blue, creating a splendid and vibrant spectacle. Elaborate wooden square blocks and intricately carved designs of Buddha, Bodhisattvas, guardian warriors, flowers, birds, and animals adorn the eaves and pillars. Corridors encircle the first story, while the tower’s interior houses only the stairs leading to the tenth floor, showcasing remarkable architectural and artistic prowess.
147
1644
1644
Upper Guangsheng Temple, Amitabha Hall (or Mito Hall), seated Buddha
- Title Translation: 广胜上寺 , 阿弥陀堂, 坐佛
- Period: Eastern Han, Ming, 147 C.E., 1368-1644 C.E.
- Project: Guangsheng Temple Murals
- Work Description: The upper temple complex comprises the mountain gate, the Flying Rainbow Tower, the Amitabha Hall, the Great Hall, the Vairochana Hall, the Kwan-yin Hall, the Ksitigarbha Hall, as well as wing-rooms and corridors, among other features. The Mountain Gate, situated at the entrance, is flanked by two guardian warriors. Just beyond the gate stands the impressive Flying Rainbow Tower, constructed from colored glaze bricks. Originally built during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) and later restored in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), this thirteen-story tower soars to a height of 47.31 meters, featuring an octagonal plan. The tower is adorned with tri-colored glaze in yellow, green, and blue, creating a splendid and vibrant spectacle. Elaborate wooden square blocks and intricately carved designs of Buddha, Bodhisattvas, guardian warriors, flowers, birds, and animals adorn the eaves and pillars. Corridors encircle the first story, while the tower’s interior houses only the stairs leading to the tenth floor, showcasing remarkable architectural and artistic prowess.
147
1644
1644
Upper Guangsheng Temple, Flying Rainbow Tower (or Feihong Pagoda) and incense burner
- Title Translation: 广胜上寺 , 飞虹塔和香炉
- Period: Eastern Han, Ming, 147 C.E., 1368-1644 C.E.
- Project: Guangsheng Temple Murals
- Work Description: The upper temple complex comprises the mountain gate, the Flying Rainbow Tower, the Amitabha Hall, the Great Hall, the Vairochana Hall, the Kwan-yin Hall, the Ksitigarbha Hall, as well as wing-rooms and corridors, among other features. The Mountain Gate, situated at the entrance, is flanked by two guardian warriors. Just beyond the gate stands the impressive Flying Rainbow Tower, constructed from colored glaze bricks. Originally built during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) and later restored in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), this thirteen-story tower soars to a height of 47.31 meters, featuring an octagonal plan. The tower is adorned with tri-colored glaze in yellow, green, and blue, creating a splendid and vibrant spectacle. Elaborate wooden square blocks and intricately carved designs of Buddha, Bodhisattvas, guardian warriors, flowers, birds, and animals adorn the eaves and pillars. Corridors encircle the first story, while the tower’s interior houses only the stairs leading to the tenth floor, showcasing remarkable architectural and artistic prowess.
147
1644
1644
Upper Guangsheng Temple, Vairocana Hall (or Pilu Temple or Tianzhongtian Temple), Buddha Triad's throne base
- Title Translation: 广胜上寺 , 毗卢殿(或毗卢寺或天中天寺), 佛三尊座底座
- Period: Eastern Han, Ming, 147 C.E., 1368-1644 C.E.
- Project: Guangsheng Temple Murals
- Work Description: The upper temple complex comprises the mountain gate, the Flying Rainbow Tower, the Amitabha Hall, the Great Hall, the Vairochana Hall, the Kwan-yin Hall, the Ksitigarbha Hall, as well as wing-rooms and corridors, among other features. The Mountain Gate, situated at the entrance, is flanked by two guardian warriors. Just beyond the gate stands the impressive Flying Rainbow Tower, constructed from colored glaze bricks. Originally built during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) and later restored in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), this thirteen-story tower soars to a height of 47.31 meters, featuring an octagonal plan. The tower is adorned with tri-colored glaze in yellow, green, and blue, creating a splendid and vibrant spectacle. Elaborate wooden square blocks and intricately carved designs of Buddha, Bodhisattvas, guardian warriors, flowers, birds, and animals adorn the eaves and pillars. Corridors encircle the first story, while the tower’s interior houses only the stairs leading to the tenth floor, showcasing remarkable architectural and artistic prowess.
147
1644
1644
Upper Guangsheng Temple, Sakyamuni Hall (or Daxiong Bodian), iron luohan images
- Title Translation: 广胜上寺 , 大雄宝殿, 铁罗汉像
- Period: Eastern Han, Ming, 147 C.E., 1368-1644 C.E.
- Project: Guangsheng Temple Murals
- Work Description: The upper temple complex comprises the mountain gate, the Flying Rainbow Tower, the Amitabha Hall, the Great Hall, the Vairochana Hall, the Kwan-yin Hall, the Ksitigarbha Hall, as well as wing-rooms and corridors, among other features. The Mountain Gate, situated at the entrance, is flanked by two guardian warriors. Just beyond the gate stands the impressive Flying Rainbow Tower, constructed from colored glaze bricks. Originally built during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) and later restored in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), this thirteen-story tower soars to a height of 47.31 meters, featuring an octagonal plan. The tower is adorned with tri-colored glaze in yellow, green, and blue, creating a splendid and vibrant spectacle. Elaborate wooden square blocks and intricately carved designs of Buddha, Bodhisattvas, guardian warriors, flowers, birds, and animals adorn the eaves and pillars. Corridors encircle the first story, while the tower’s interior houses only the stairs leading to the tenth floor, showcasing remarkable architectural and artistic prowess.
147
1644
1644
Upper Guangsheng Temple, Vairocana Hall (or Pilu Temple or Tianzhongtian Temple) and incense burner
- Title Translation: 广胜上寺 , 毗卢殿(或毗卢寺或天中天寺)和香炉
- Period: Eastern Han, Ming, 147 C.E., 1368-1644 C.E.
- Project: Guangsheng Temple Murals
- Work Description: The upper temple complex comprises the mountain gate, the Flying Rainbow Tower, the Amitabha Hall, the Great Hall, the Vairochana Hall, the Kwan-yin Hall, the Ksitigarbha Hall, as well as wing-rooms and corridors, among other features. The Mountain Gate, situated at the entrance, is flanked by two guardian warriors. Just beyond the gate stands the impressive Flying Rainbow Tower, constructed from colored glaze bricks. Originally built during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) and later restored in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), this thirteen-story tower soars to a height of 47.31 meters, featuring an octagonal plan. The tower is adorned with tri-colored glaze in yellow, green, and blue, creating a splendid and vibrant spectacle. Elaborate wooden square blocks and intricately carved designs of Buddha, Bodhisattvas, guardian warriors, flowers, birds, and animals adorn the eaves and pillars. Corridors encircle the first story, while the tower’s interior houses only the stairs leading to the tenth floor, showcasing remarkable architectural and artistic prowess.
147
1644
1644
Upper Guangsheng Temple, Sakyamuni Hall (or Daxiong Bodian), interior
- Title Translation: 广胜上寺 , 大雄宝殿, 内部
- Period: Eastern Han, Ming, 147 C.E., 1368-1644 C.E.
- Project: Guangsheng Temple Murals
- Work Description: The upper temple complex comprises the mountain gate, the Flying Rainbow Tower, the Amitabha Hall, the Great Hall, the Vairochana Hall, the Kwan-yin Hall, the Ksitigarbha Hall, as well as wing-rooms and corridors, among other features. The Mountain Gate, situated at the entrance, is flanked by two guardian warriors. Just beyond the gate stands the impressive Flying Rainbow Tower, constructed from colored glaze bricks. Originally built during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) and later restored in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), this thirteen-story tower soars to a height of 47.31 meters, featuring an octagonal plan. The tower is adorned with tri-colored glaze in yellow, green, and blue, creating a splendid and vibrant spectacle. Elaborate wooden square blocks and intricately carved designs of Buddha, Bodhisattvas, guardian warriors, flowers, birds, and animals adorn the eaves and pillars. Corridors encircle the first story, while the tower’s interior houses only the stairs leading to the tenth floor, showcasing remarkable architectural and artistic prowess.
147
1644
1644
Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin) Head
- Title Translation: 观世音菩萨(观音)头
- Period: Northern Wei, 493–534 C.E.
- Project: Sculptures in Longmen Caves
- Work Description: Large head of Guanyin with high headdress; lower extremities of ear lobes broken, and nose and lips repaired; fragment of statue, probably in high relief. Stand.
493 - 534
Standing Eleven-headed Kannon (Ekādaśamukha Avalokiteśvara)
- Title Translation: 十一面观音 (依卡达萨穆哈)
- Period: Tang, 703 C.E.
- Project: Guangzhai Temple Qibaotai Pagoda
- Work Description: This image is one of the seven statues of Eleven-Headed Guanyin (Jūichimen Kannon) from the statue group in Baoqinsi Temple in China’s present-day Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. The right hand holds a seal with the words “Extinguish Sin.” This attribute reflects belief in Avalokiteśvara’s capacities at expiating bad karma.
703
Monster Kneeling, 3D model
- Title Translation: 跪鬼神 , 3D模型
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
550 - 577
Bodhisattva Standing, 3D model
- Title Translation: 菩萨立像 , 3D模型
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: Statue of bodhisattva made of hard, dark-grey limestone which has stained and discolored with age. There are traces of green, red and blue pigment on the piece. It is almost identical with C113 but there is no figure in the aureole of the tiara. C113, C150 and C151 are from Cave #2 of the Southern Xiangtangshan. C150 could be from the front shrine, one of the three shrines surrounded by the central pillar.
550 - 577
Bodhisattva Hand, 3D model
- Title Translation: 菩萨手 , 3D模型
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
550 - 577
Bodhisattva Standing, 3D model
- Title Translation: 菩萨立像 , 3D模型
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: This free-standing Bodhisattva is related to the image style of the Xiangtangshan cave temples and stylistically dates to about the same time, ca. 560s–70s during the Northern Qi Dynasty in northeastern China. It possesses the characteristically columnar form of the Xiangtangshan sculptures, though the jewel forms appear slightly more subdued than usual. The posture is frontal and unbending, indicating, as with the Xiangtangshan sculptures in general, a sense of inner, irrevocable solidity and firmness. The human body is disclosed in its most primordial shape with thin, close-fitting robes smoothing out the surfaces. Jewelry makes its own symmetric patterns of heavy, raised, textured pearl chains, X-crossed in shape as they cover the frontal expanse and contrast with the sharp edges of the bands of the hems and long shoulder scarves that descend as a framing statement to the lotus pedestal. A youthful, serene face appears remote and distant, though still human, above the rather massive form. Impressive in its monumentality, this bodhisattva exemplifies the sixth-century style of early Buddhist art in China. He stands on a lotus pedestal, which signals his transcendent nature as a being that has surpassed the mundane human state in knowledge and compassion. The mass of his body and the equal distribution of weight on both feet impart an iconic quality to this object of worship.
550 - 577
Musician Sheng
- Title Translation: 菩萨头
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: This magnificent sculpture comes from an important complex of mountainside Buddhist shrines hewn from the living rock at Xiangtangshan in Hebei province. It originally belonged to a full-length statue of a bodhisattva (an enlightened being who has postponed nirvana in order to help achieve salvation for others); the vase in the center of the crown may identify the figure as Mahāsthāmaprāpta, one of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas of Mahayana Buddhism. The principal grottoes at Xiangtangshan were carved during the short-lived Northern Qi dynasty (550-77), which ruled much of northern China prior to the reunification of the country in 589 under the Sui (589-618).
550 - 577
Bodhisattva Standing
- Title Translation: 菩萨立像
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: Statue of bodhisattva made of hard, dark-grey limestone which has stained and discolored with age. There are traces of green, red and blue pigment on the piece. It is almost identical with C113 but there is no figure in the aureole of the tiara. C113, C150 and C151 are from Cave #2 of the Southern Xiangtangshan. C150 could be from the front shrine, one of the three shrines surrounded by the central pillar.
550 - 577
Bodhisattva Hand
- Title Translation: 菩萨手
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
550 - 577
Northern Xiangtangshan, Middle Cave, façade
- Title Translation: 北响堂山中洞 , 外墙
- Period: Northern Qi, Ming, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: The Middle Cave, the second largest of the caves in scale, still has its impressive entrance and large stone porch largely preserved. In recent times, a wooden porch-like structure was added to the front of the cave. Above the eaves of the porch and carved into the stone mountainside, there is a domed roof with a fenced harmika or platform at the top. The single-story stupa with domed roof is a distinctive feature of the design of the Xiangtangshan caves and appears on the walls of the North Cave and on many smaller stone carvings of the middle and late sixth century. Tall armored guardian figures stand under the stone eaves of the porch, and large lions support the columns flanking the door. Walking into the cave, visitors pass under the gaze of two tall bodhisattvas who face the entrance. The Middle Cave, like the great North Cave, has a large central pillar. However, it has only a single large niche deeply cut into the front of the pillar to form an altar on which a Buddha sits on a lotus throne accompanied by two tall standing disciple figures and two bodhisattvas. The base of the central pillar has relief figures of Spirit Kings, lions, and incense burners, much like the North Cave. The cave walls were originally left largely plain, but devotees of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) added a row of seated Buddhas contained in shallow niches that encircle cave's interior.
550 - 577
Northern Xiangtangshan, South Cave, east wall, north side, bodhisattva
- Title Translation: 北响堂山南洞 , 东壁,北侧, 菩萨
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
- Work Description: The South Cave at Northern Xiangtangshan, like the Middle Cave, preserves its original stupa-form with domed roof and a porch in front. An additional small cave is carved into the dome. The main chamber is an open chamber space with images set around three walls. Each altar has a central Buddha surrounded by six standing figures including bodhisattvas, disciples and pratyekabuddhas. Smaller Buddhas appear in rows on the upper level of the cave. On the ceiling a large lotus blossom is carved in relief. The work on the cave appears to have been begun, then interrupted, and resumed later by different craftsmen. The main sculpted images show signs of having been created in two stages, with the later mode of carving evident in the group of images on the back wall. The stylistic difference is also evident in the appearance of the heads of figures taken from the cave and now located in museums and private collections outside China. In addition to its sculptural art, the South Cave is very important for its extensive engravings of Buddhist scriptures in stone. These are located inside the cave on the entrance wall, inside the porch, on the exterior wall of the porch, and extending onto the north wall of the courtyard. At the end of the sutra texts, the dedicatory stele of Tang Yong records that the engravings were carried out in the years from 568-572.
550 - 577
Bodhisattva Head
- Title Translation: 菩萨头
- Period: Tang, 618-907 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The head is from a bodhisattva on the north (back) wall, west side of the Buddha. The standing figure from which it comes is now in the Rietberg Museum, Zurich.
618 - 907
Bodhisattva Head
- Title Translation: 菩萨头
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The stone is reddish in color and the carving not typical of known examples from Tianlongshan.
550 - 577
Bodhisattva Lion
- Title Translation: 菩萨狮子
- Period: Tang, 618-907 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: Cave 20 contained this bodhisattva Manjusri seated on a lion. The lion has been heavily restored.
618 - 907
Bodhisattva Head
- Title Translation: 菩萨头
- Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The large head is from the cross-ankled Maitreya bodhisattva image in the east wall niche of Cave 10.
550 - 577
Bodhisattva Head
- Title Translation: 菩萨头
- Period: Tang, 618-907 C.E.
- Project: Tianlongshan Caves
- Work Description: The head has a full youthful feminine face with raised arching brows, full cheeks and small mouth. The seated bodhisattva figure from which it was taken still remains on the north wall of Cave 21.
618 - 907