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Longmen Grottoes: Four Outstanding Inscriptions - Inscription of Sculpture Commissioned by Yang Dayan
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Longmen Grottoes: Four Outstanding Inscriptions - Inscription of Sculpture Commissioned by Yang Dayan
CHINA, Henan, Luoyang; Northern Wei dynasty (386–534), dated 500–508; Regular script; Rubbing; National Library of China, Beijing
Known in full as the Inscription of Sculpture Commissioned by Fuguo General Yang Dayan for Emperor Xiaowen, this work is one of the acclaimed Four Outstanding Inscriptions of the Longmen Grottoes. Neither the date nor name of the writer is given, but it is estimated to have been produced between the years 500 and 508. There are 11 lines of 23 characters each.
Yang Dayan was a general from the Di tribe who was said to be well-versed in battle. He passed by the Longmen Grottoes while returning from a successful expedition to the south and, out of gratitude to Emperor Xiaowen (reigned 471-499) of the Northern Wei dynasty, resolved to erect images of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas on his behalf. Yang named himself as the yizhu" (master of a county) |
