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Xinglong Temple Stone Lantern
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Xinglong Temple Stone Lantern
CHINA, Heilongjiang, Mudanjiang
This stone lantern is located within Xinglong Temple. It is the only well-preserved example of stone carving from the period of the Balhae Kingdom (711-926).
The stone lantern was carved from basalt and repeatedly polished. It was originally 6.4 m high, but since the spire has been damaged, only 6 m remain. The lower base is octagonal and the upper base is in the form of an inverted lotus, which in turn supports the pillar. There is an upturned lotus on top of the pillar supporting the octagonal body, which has openings on all sides. The octagonal pyramidal roof has imitation corrugated tiles and the eaves are supported by bracket sets. The spire in the center of the roof consists of stacked rings. It represents the best Buddhist stone carving from this period. |
