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Xianqing Temple: Seated Buddha
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Xianqing Temple: Seated Buddha
CHINA, Shanxi, Jinzhong; Eastern Wei dynasty (534–550); Stone; H: 142 cm; Shanghai Museum, China
The statue was discovered at the ruins of Xianqing Temple in Pingyao county of Jinzhong. The elegantly proportioned figure is seated in a half lotus posture that is more governed by the need to create a stable design than realistic representation. The hair is smooth and the mounded usnisa also adds to the impression of balance and stillness. The monastic robes cover both shoulders while the outer robe opens to show the diagonal line of the inner robe. The shallow folds of the material supplement this diagonal pattern until the garment cascades over the legs in a rippling decorative pattern. |
