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Longxing Temple: Maitreya Buddha Triad
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Longxing Temple: Maitreya Buddha Triad
CHINA, Shandong, Qingzhou; Northern Wei dynasty (386–534), dated 529; Commissioned by Han Xiaohua; Limestone; H: 55 cm; Qingzhou Museum, Shandong, China
The sculpture was unearthed from the site of Longxing Temple in 1996. Three figures stand on inverted lotus pedestals and are backed by lotus nimbuses. Maitreya is depicted with a high usnisa and wears monastic robes covering both shoulders, with the ends of the robes flaring outwards. His hands are held in the conventional abhaya (fearlessness) and varada (wish-granting) mudras. The Bodhisattvas beside him wear stoles that hang down the body and loop over the skirt. The three figures are united by a single petal-shaped mandorla that is set against a backscreen, where two figures holding moon discs can be seen at the top. An inscription found on the sculpture dates it to 529 of the Northern Wei dynasty and identifies Han Xiaohua as the person who commissioned it. |
