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Longhua Temple: Maitreya Buddha Triad
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Longhua Temple: Maitreya Buddha Triad
CHINA, Shandong, Binzhou; Northern Wei dynasty (386–534), dated 532; Commissioned by Kong Que; Gilt bronze; H: 23.5 cm; Boxing County Museum, Binzhou, Shandong, China
This is a typical triad in which Maitreya, accompanied by two Bodhisattvas, share a common mandorla supported on a four-legged stand. Maitreya stands on an inverted lotus pedestal with hands in abhaya (fearlessness) and varada (wish-granting) mudra. Behind the head is a large lotus nimbus with a confining outer rim. While the main figure wears a monastic robe that covers both shoulders, the Bodhisattvas wear long stoles and robes and stand facing forward with their palms joined in reverence.
The surrounding mandorla is petal-shaped and carved with stylized flame patterns. An inscription on the back dates the work to 532 of the Northern Wei dynasty, and identifies a man named Kong Que as the person who commissioned it. |
