Buddhist votive stele with Buddha and two Bodhisattvas, 678
Unknown artist, Chinaexpand_more
Limestone, pigmentsexpand_more
The Putnam Dana McMillan Fundexpand_more 2021.34
On View in Gallery 200expand_more
This stone stele depicts the Buddha sitting on a lotus throne, flanked by a pair of bodhisattvas. His left hand is raised in abhaya mudra (gesture of dispelling fear), and the right is resting on his knee. The figures in this stele illustrate the vivid and naturalistic qualities that are characteristic of Buddhist icons of the Tang dynasty; artists of that period were skilled at imbuing deities with a sense of warmth and humanity. The inscription tells us that the stele was commissioned during the reign of Emperor Gaozong in 678, and remarkably lists both the Emperor and the Empress, Wu, as beneficiaries. It was highly unusual for an empress to be included in this way prior to this time, proving her rising power before ultimately becoming the most powerful woman in the Tang dynasty when she became the de facto ruler of China in 690.
Details
- Title
- Buddhist votive stele with Buddha and two Bodhisattvas
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2021.34
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.