National Museum of Asian Art Northern Qi Dynasty Western Paradise of the Buddha Amitabha 国立亚洲艺术博物馆南响堂山北齐无量寿经变浮雕

            F1921.2 550–577 CE Poorly removed from the wall (top of the entrance to Cave 2, Southern Xiangtangshan Cave, Hebei province) Limestone with traces of pigment H x W: 120.8 x 340 cm (47 9/16 x 133 7/8 in)

This large relief is almost eleven feet long. At the center, a Buddha sits under a canopy decorated with strings of large jewels. He raises his right hand to make a teaching or preaching gesture. Seated deva crowd around him. Above the canopy, more Buddhas and bodhisattvas sit on lotus and are distinguished by the halos around their heads. Other flying divinities and musical instruments float in the sky. One tall lavish building appears at each side of the relief. A rectangular pond, flanked by the bodhisattvas Avalokiteshvara and Mahasthamaprapta, lies in front of the central Buddha. It is the focus of attention of the Buddha and the two principal bodhisattvas. Inside the pond, small childlike figures sit on lotus blossoms or are enclosed inside the flowers. These represent reborn souls, some lotus blossoms are still tightly closed and others are in full bloom.

The Buddha is Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light. He resides in his heavenly realm called the Western Paradise, or Pure Land. Devotees believe that absolute faith in Amitabha empowers a person to be reborn in his paradise. According to the scriptures, the Western Paradise is a land of bliss. People there enjoy peace and plenty. Beautiful music sounds from the sky. Trees grow precious jewels. The relief depicts Amitabha welcoming newly reborn souls who emerge from lotus blossoms. It is believed to be the earliest known illustration of the Western Paradise in Chinese art.

The relief comes from the wall of a cave at Xiangtangshan, literally “Mountain of Echoing Halls,” in Northern China. The Buddhist cave temples of Xiangtangshan are a group of worship halls or shrines carved into the mountains during the sixth century. Created with the financial support of the royal family and officials, the caves represent the power and prestige of the throne and the popularity of Buddhist belief at the time. The relief was originally carved on top of the entrance to Cave 2, facing the main altar of the cave. Sculptures of Amitabha and other divinities also stood on the altar. One would have felt as if entering the heavenly dwelling of the Buddha Amitabha when walking into the cave.

来自南响堂山二号窟入口顶部窟壁，画面中央佛坐于莲台上扬掌说法，两侧是听法的菩萨众，还有殿堂楼阁，空工有乘云来去的佛与菩萨。这铺经变为北齐时代所造，可以说是中国北方时代最早的经变图。

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Taken on: December 28, 2024

Tags:

carving

Xiangtangshan

relief

sculpture

Buddha

Paradise

Bodhisattva

Apsaras

坐佛

响堂山

响堂山石窟

雕刻

浮雕

石雕

菩萨

菩薩

南响堂山

飞天

阿弥陀佛

阿彌陀佛

阿弥陀如来

经变

西方净土

极乐世界

極楽浄土

楼阁

F1921.2

Amitabha

Amitābha

国宝

无量寿经变

无量寿 « less

Sets appears in: • Abroad Chinese Buddhist Sculptures and related object 海外中国佛教造像以及相关文物 • Northern Qi Dynasty 北齐 more » • Xiangtangshan Grottoes • National Museum of Asian Art 2024 « less

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