Rubbing of Imperial Procession with Empress

Information

Work Description: This rubbing was taken from stone reliefs commissioned by the Northern Wei emperor Xuanwu (reigned 500–515) in honor of his deceased parents.

In this rubbing, the empress mother is in the center, crowned with an elaborate headdress and attended by an entourage of palace ladies. The empress mother is about to place an incense stick into a censer held by a lady on the left side. Other attendants carry offerings for the Buddha, such as lotus flowers, a symbol of purity in Buddhism.

The second part of the imperial procession, showing the emperor with male attendants, is depicted in another rubbing in the CMA collection, 1916.64.; 此拓片取自北魏宣武皇帝（在位 500-515 年）为纪念已故父母而委托制作的浮雕石碑。

在这幅拓片中，太后位于中心，头戴精致的头饰，周围有宫女侍从。太后正要把一炷香放入左侧贵妇所持的香炉中。其他侍者则为佛陀供奉莲花，莲花是佛教纯洁的象征。

皇家游行的第二部分描绘了皇帝和男性侍从，在 CMA 收藏的另一张拓片（1916.64）中有所描绘。