Artwork Page for Stele with Shakyamuni and Maitreya

Details / Information for Stele with Shakyamuni and Maitreya

Stele with Shakyamuni and Maitreya

c. 570s

China, Northern Qi dynasty

(550-577)
Medium
marble with polychromy
Measurements
Overall: 119 cm (46 7/8 in.)
Credit Line
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 1993.108
Public Domain
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Location
241C Chinese Buddhist Sculptures
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Did You Know?

Shakyamuni, or the historical Buddha, was a prince who gave up his earthly possessions for spiritual transcendence.

Description

In this stele, Shakyamuni (the historical Buddha) bears a benign smile in the hand gestures of fearlessness and gift giving. He is flanked by two bodhisattvas and two disciples-all standing against a mandorla (almond-shaped halo) adorned with a stupa and flying heavenly beings. On the reverse side, the Buddha sits in a pensive pose with his head tilted, mediating under twin sala trees. This position is reserved for Shakyamuni’s first meditation or Maitreya’s meditation. The joint appearance of Shakyamuni and Maitreya (the future Buddha) on two sides of a stele was a favorite scheme of the Northern Qi period.
A marble sculpture depicts Shakyamuni Buddha with a mandorla, a pointed oval halo, behind him and flanked by two people a third his size on either side. Flying humanlike beings line the edge of the mandorla, all facing Shakyamuni, with flower petals and a foliage-patterned band around his head. He holds his right hand fingers pointed up and left down, wearing draped robes. Traces of red paint color the marble.

Stele with Shakyamuni and Maitreya

c. 570s

China, Northern Qi dynasty (550-577)

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