Artwork Page for Rubbing of Imperial Procession with Empress, taken from Northern Wei dynasty (386-534) Central Binyang Cave, Longmen, Henan Province

Details / Information for Rubbing of Imperial Procession with Empress, taken from Northern Wei dynasty (386-534) Central Binyang Cave, Longmen, Henan Province

Rubbing of Imperial Procession with Empress, taken from Northern Wei dynasty (386-534) Central Binyang Cave, Longmen, Henan Province

禮佛圖拓片，出自北魏（386-534）龍門賓陽中洞，河南省

1910–16

China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911) or Republican period

(1912-49)
Medium
rubbing
Measurements
Rubbing only: 205.6 x 388.4 cm (80 15/16 x 152 15/16 in.); Overall: 227.3 x 406.4 cm (89 1/2 x 160 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Yamanaka & Company 1916.65
Copyright
Copyright
This artwork is known to be under copyright.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

A rubbing is taken directly from a carved stone’s surface, so the resulting image has the same orientation as the original carving.

Description

This rubbing was taken from stone reliefs commissioned by the Northern Wei emperor Xuanwu (reigned 500–515) in honor of his deceased parents.

In this rubbing, the empress mother is in the center, crowned with an elaborate headdress and attended by an entourage of palace ladies. The empress mother is about to place an incense stick into a censer held by a lady on the left side. Other attendants carry offerings for the Buddha, such as lotus flowers, a symbol of purity in Buddhism.

The second part of the imperial procession, showing the emperor with male attendants, is depicted in another rubbing in the CMA collection, 1916.64.
A horizontally oriented rubbing in black ink depicts a crowded procession of figures with light skin tones. Moving toward our right, an Empress wears a high, tiered headdress and voluminous robes. To our left, a smaller figure bows as an attendant holds a long-stemmed lotus flower. On the right, two figures carry large, upright feathered fans. The composition is rendered with a mottled, stone-like texture and framed by rough, dark borders.

Rubbing of Imperial Procession with Empress, taken from Northern Wei dynasty (386-534) Central Binyang Cave, Longmen, Henan Province

1910–16

China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911) or Republican period (1912-49)

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork