Pedestal
Stela Base
Object Number:
C144
Current Location:
China Gallery
Culture:
Chinese
Provenience:
China
Period:
Tang Dynasty
Date Made:
c. 650 AD
Early Date:
630
Late Date:
670
Section:
Asian
Materials:
Stone
Technique:
Inscribed
Iconography:
Sakyamuni
Enlightenment
Miracle of Sravasti
Miracle of the Four Begging Bowls
Conversion of Ajnata Kaundinya
Kanthaka
Bodhisattvas
Devarajas
Monks
wheel of the law
Dragons
Phoenix
Ogre
Lotus
Qilin
Taotie
Description:
Quadrangular stone base with top edges bevelled and 19.5" x 7" inch hole at center for stela, now missing. Episodes from the life of the Buddha are engraved on this stela base. Left Panel: The Buddha, born as a prince, leaves the palace to seek understanding of human existence. His horse, Kanthaka, who mourned his master's departure, dies shortly thereafter. Right Panel: After a long ordeal to attain enlightenment, the Buddha is given four bowls for accepting offerings of food after his fast. He magically transforms the four bowls into one. Back Panel: The Buddha gives a sermon to ascetics. They are seated to his left as monks prior to their conversion. To his right the five are shown again, now as bodhisattvas, transformed by the Buddha's words. Front Panel: The Buddha performs miracles to pacify the heretics. The bevelled edges are inscribed with two dragons, a jewel, phoenix, qilin, taotie mask and lotus scrolls.
Height:
50.8cm
Length:
85.72cm
Width:
55.25cm
Credit Line:
Purchased from C. T. Loo
Other Number:
Current & Past Exhibitions:
Chinese Rotunda (1968)
Chinese Halls (1941 - 1966)
Bibliography:
[Article] Jayne, Horace H. 1941. The Chinese Collections of The University Museum: A Handbook of the Principal Objects. The University Museum Bulletin. 9 (2-3) : Page/Fig./Plate: Figure 21
[Book] Getz, John. 1916. Exhibition of Oriental Art. : Page/Fig./Plate: 184 no.25
[Article] Bishop, C. W. 1916. Two Early Chinese Buddhist Sculptures. The Museum Journal. Volume VII (No. 4): 245-262. : Page/Fig./Plate: 245-262, figs. 195-201.
[Article] Chavannes, Edouard. 1914. Six Monuments de la Sculpture Chinoise. Ars Asiatica. Volume II : Page/Fig./Plate: pg. 30-33
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