Pedestal

Stela Base

Object Number:

C145

Current Location:

China Gallery

Culture:

Chinese
Buddhist

Provenience:

China
Hebei

Period:

Wei Dynasty

Date Made:

525

Early Date:

525

Late Date:

525

Section:

Asian

Materials:

Limestone

Technique:

Carved
Incised

Iconography:

Donor
Horse
Carriage
Attendant
Lions

Description:

Stone pedestal of grey limestone with traces of yellow paint. Square pedestal supporting an inverted lotus pedestal in the deep groove of which was once inserted a statue of Maitreya. Three of the sides are decorated with scenes carved in low relief with the details incised. The fourth side bears an inscription stating that this statue of Maitreya was dedicated by the governor of Weixian, the modern Taimingfu, Hebei province, in the 6th year, 3rd month, 20th day of the Zhengguang reign of the Northern Wei Dynasty (April 27, 525 CE). The figure on the front panel holds a reliquary or incense burner and two mythical lions guarding the reliquary. The intervals are filled with lotus, narcissus and phoenix motifs. On one side panel the donor iis represented proceeding with an incense urn and accompanied by two boys and followed by five servants, one holding the umbrella of state, one a banner screen, two with symbols of offer, and the fifth holding a sword has turned to hold the caprisoned horse by the bridle. The other side panel shows a similar scene with the donor's wife, Madame Zao, in the leading role accompanyied by two sons and followed by four servants, one of whom has remained behind to tend the ox cart in which the family has apparently been riding. Intervals filled with motifs. Found in the possession of the head of the family of Cheng, a very rich collector of Wei hien, province of Shandong. It still belonged to Mr. Cheng when Chavannes saw and described it in 1909.

Credit Line:

Purchased from C. T. Loo

Current & Past Exhibitions:

Chinese Rotunda (1968)

Chinese Halls (1941 - 1966)

Bibliography:

[Article] Wong, Dorothy C. 2001. "Maitreya Buddha Statues at the University of Pennsylvania Museum". Orientations. 32 (2): 24-31. : Page/Fig./Plate: 30

[Book] Smith, Bradley. 1973. China: A History in Art. 296 p. illus. 33 cm. : Page/Fig./Plate: p. 110

[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: p. 25, Fig. 20

[Thesis] Wegner, Max. 1930. Ikonographie des chinesischen Maitreya. : Page/Fig./Plate: 216-229.

[Book] De Morant, George S. 1928. Histoire de l'art chinois, de l'antiquite jusqu'a nos jours. : Page/Fig./Plate: pl. 10A.

[Book] Siren, Osvald. 1925. Chinese sculpture from the fifth to the fourteenth century; over 900 specimens in stone, bronze, lacquer and wood, principally from northern China. : Page/Fig./Plate: Plate 150-151

[Book] Munsterberg, Oskar. 1924. Chinesische Kunstgeschichte. Volume 1. : Page/Fig./Plate: 141, abb. 102.

[Book] Bushell, Stephen W. Chinese Art. : Page/Fig./Plate: 36, fig. 22.

[Book] Ashton, Leigh. 1924. An Introduction to the Study of Chinese Sculpture. : Page/Fig./Plate: pl. 54.

[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. 194-197.

[Book] Chavannes, Edouard. 1909. Mission Archeologique dans la Chine Septentrionale. : Page/Fig./Plate: 594, fig. 433.