Showing  351 - 375 of 416 Records

Showing  351 - 375 of 416 Records
Lower Guangsheng Temple, back hall (or Daxiong Bodian), stele and entrance
  • Title Translation: 广胜下寺 , 后殿 (即大雄宝殿), 石碑和入口
  • 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.

Lower Guangsheng Temple, back hall (or Daxiong Bodian), stele
  • Title Translation: 广胜下寺 , 后殿 (即大雄宝殿), 石碑
  • 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.

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.

Lower Guangsheng Temple, Guardians in Mountain Gate Hall
  • Title Translation: 广胜下寺 , 山门殿天王,护法烈士
  • 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.

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.

Lower Guangsheng Temple, guide map
  • Title Translation: 广胜下寺 , 导游图
  • 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.

Water God's Temple (Shuishen Temple) of the Guangsheng Monastery, Ming Ying King Hall (or Mingyingwang Temple), fresco
  • Title Translation: 广胜寺水神庙 , 明应王殿, 壁画
  • Period: Eastern Han, Ming, 147 C.E., 1368-1644 C.E.
  • Project: Guangsheng Temple Murals
  • Work Description: The Water God's Temple has two yards: the front yard and the back yard, and includes the Temple Gate, the Door of Amenity, the Ming Ying King Hall and wing-rooms of cave dwellings. The Ming Ying King Hall is 5-bay wide and 5-bay long with a cloister around and a double-eaved gable hip roof. Beams inside are of common style. The hall houses statues of Water God Ming Ying King and his eleven attendants. Their facial features, clothes and gestures are all of Yuan style. Frescoes about people praying for the rain and other historical stories covered the walls, occupying an area of 197 square meters. The pictures of dramas at the eastern end of the south wall show a complete set of stage property for the performers: costumes, stage instruments, musical instruments, makeup, curtain, stage, and so on. The drawing was strictly arranged, the color was simple but profound, and dramatis personae were expressive. This fresco reflects the true condition of Yuan Drama in its peak time; it is a rare fine work of Yuan frescoes in China.

Upper Guangsheng Temple, exterior
  • Title Translation: 广胜上寺 , 外部
  • 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.

Upper Guangsheng Temple, Vairocana Hall (or Pilu Temple or Tianzhongtian Temple), interior
  • Title Translation: 广胜上寺 , 毗卢殿(或毗卢寺或天中天寺), 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.

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.

Upper Guangsheng Temple, Vairocana Hall (or Pilu Temple or Tianzhongtian Temple), eaves
  • Title Translation: 广胜上寺 , 毗卢殿(或毗卢寺或天中天寺), 檐
  • 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.

Upper Guangsheng Temple, surroundings
  • Title Translation: 广胜上寺 , 周围环境
  • 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.

Longmen Binyang Central Cave, Detail of the Bodhisattva on the right side on the West Wall of Cave 140
  • Title Translation: 龙门宾阳中洞 , 第140窟西壁右胁侍菩萨部分
  • Period: Northern Wei, 386–534 C.E.
  • Project: Longmen Binyang Central Cave
  • Work Description: The Longmen Caves are located outside the city of Luoyang, China, about 500 miles southeast of the modern-day capital in Beijing. Established in the late fifth century, the site consists of 2,345 caves, and over 100,000 individual Buddhist statues, ranging in height from a few inches to over 56 feet. For more than 250 years, Chinese Buddhists from all walks of life sponsored the addition of Buddhist statues and inscriptions to the site, most significantly from the late Northern Wei (386-534) through the Tang dynasty (618-907). Binyang Central Cave is one of the earliest at Longmen and a major monument of Chinese Buddhism. Begun around the year 501, it was commissioned by the youthful Emperor Xuanwu (483-515) and dedicated to his father, Emperor Xiaowen, who died in 499 at age thirty-three. The cave is one of the major monuments of Chinese Buddhism. MEasuring roughly 30 feet in each dimension, its principal image is 28-foot-high seated Buddha largly filling the back of the cave and accompanied by smaller standing figures—disciples, Buddhas, and bodhisattva—on either side. The exit wall contained some of the finest stone relief carvings of the era, including depictions of two imperial processions, and a number of stories from Buddhist scriptures. After cave-making was discontinued for nearly a thousand years, the Longmen site was "discovered" by foreign scholars in the late 1800s. The publication of their studies with photos attracted international attention to the artistic quality of the sculptures. The publications ultimately led to the looting of much of the site in the early part of the twentieth century. In response to demand from art dealers, collectors, and museums around the globe, local stonecutters removed countless works from the caves, often breaking them into numerous fragments in the process. Pieces from the greater Longmen complex can now be found scattered throughout the world. In Binyang Central Cave, several heads and large portions of the relief carvings were cut or burned out of the walls. Fragments from Binyang Central Cave now reside in museums in the US and Japan, as well as in storage at the Longmen Research Institute in China. Many shattered pieces are identifiable today with the evidence of historical photographs and rubbings taken of the reliefs before their removal.

Eleven-headed Guanyin (Ekadasamukha)
  • 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 a group of relief-carved stone Buddhist plinths from Huatasi temple, Xian (also known as Baoqingsi). The symmetrically arranged body and the flowing drapery lines are particularly beautiful, making this an important fundamental piece in the study of Chinese early Tang period Buddhist sculpture.

Qibaotai Pagoda/Baoqing Temple Buddhist Niches
  • Title Translation: 七宝台塔/宝庆寺佛龛
  • Period: Tang, 703 C.E.
  • Project: Guangzhai Temple Qibaotai Pagoda

Bodhisattva Head, 3D model
  • Title Translation: 菩萨头 , 3D模型
  • Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
  • Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
  • Work Description: Although the Northern Qi was a shortlived state in northeastern China, it once served as a major center for the development of Buddhism. Its rulers were fervent followers of Buddhism and patrons of innumerable temple building projects. A major focus of their efforts was the great rock-cut cave complex at Xiangtangshan on the border between Hebei and Henan. This head once belonged to a colossal statue at this site. Its rounded, rather youthful face and smooth contours are typical of the stylistic development of the time.

Bodhisattva Standing, 3D model
  • Title Translation: 菩萨立像 , 3D模型
  • Period: Sui, 581-518 C.E.
  • Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
  • Work Description: Bodhisattva in standing position, head and hands turned away. Draped in a tightly enveloping dhoti and a long shawl, falling over the shoulders and arm, thin ornamental folds.

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: Carved out of one piece of stone, this bodhisattva stands barefooted on a base and wears a long gown, ornate jewelry, and a large rosette-shaped crown. The rounded, solid form and the solemn facial expression convey the deity's grace and compassion, and mark an artistic departure from the foreign influence of India and Central Asia toward a new, distinguished Chinese style. This statue comes from Xiangtangshan (Mountains of Resounding Halls), a Buddhist cave complex built on a hillside near Handan in Hebei province, and is one of the earliest Buddhist statues built in this complex. Its construction was funded by Emperor Gao Yang of the Northern Qi dynasty.

Monster Kneeling
  • Title Translation: 跪鬼神
  • Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
  • Project: Xiangtangshan Caves

Bodhisattva Head
  • Title Translation: 菩萨头
  • Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
  • Project: Xiangtangshan Caves

Bodhisattva Hand
  • Title Translation: 菩萨手
  • Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
  • Project: Xiangtangshan Caves

Bodhisattva Standing
  • Title Translation: 菩萨立像
  • Period: Sui, 581-518 C.E.
  • Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
  • Work Description: Standing Guanyin Bodhisattva, head and both hands broken off. The smoothly falling robe forms thin ornamental folds.

Bodhisattva Head
  • Title Translation: 菩萨头
  • Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
  • Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
  • Work Description: Both the Eastern Wei (535–50) and the Northern Qi dynasties were ruled from a capital at Ye (presentday Linzhang) in southern Hebei province; both sponsored the construction of new cave temples. The complex built at Xiangtangshan (not far from the capital) dates from the Northern Qi period. It consists of two sites: the three enormous cave temples at the top of the mountain are known as Northern Xiangtangshan, while an additional seven smaller shrines, about nine miles to the south, are known as Southern Xiangtangshan. This head comes from the southern site, which was constructed slightly later.

Southern Xiangtangshan, seated bodhisattva
  • Title Translation: 南响堂山洞穴群 , 坐菩萨
  • Period: Northern Qi, 550-577 C.E.
  • Project: Xiangtangshan Caves
  • Work Description: The two main groups of caves are known as Northern and Southern Xiangtangshan. The Northern Group, Bei Xiangtang, is the earliest and largest in scale and has three caves begun with imperial sponsorship; the Southern Group, Nan Xiangtang, has smaller caves numbered from one to seven; and a third site at Shuiyusi, also known as Xiao Xiangtang or “Little Xiangtang,” has one Northern Qi cave with sculptures.

Northern Xiangtangshan, South Cave, east wall, bodhisattva, south side
  • Title Translation: 北响堂山南洞 , 东壁、菩萨、南侧
  • 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.