Carving

Object Number:	41-6-1
Current Location:	Collections Storage
Culture:	Chinese Buddhist
Provenience:	China
Period:	Eastern Wei Dynasty (uncertain)
Date Made:	c. 548 CE
Early Date:	528
Late Date:	568
Section:	Asian
Materials:	Limestone
Iconography:	Lion Lotus Elephant Spirit King Lion Spirit King Bird Spirit King Fish Spirit King Tree Spirit King Mountain Spirit King
Credit Line:	Purchased from Ton Ying, 1941

Description

Rectangular limestone block. Obverse: Four seated Spirit Kings, the figure at the left has the head covered with an elephant head mask; the next, an animal head mask (the lower part not shown) is pushed up over the forehead; the head of the third figure is concealed by an animal head mask; the fourth holds a curved animal over his head, a figure with an animal head and a fish body. Reverse: two lions guarding the lotus which is suported by two small seated human figures. Each end: two seated Spirit Kings.

Bibliography:

[Article] Bunker, Emmy C. 1964. "The Spirit Kings in Sixth Century Chinese Buddhist Sculpture". Archives of the Chinese Art Society of America. New York. University of Hawai'i Press. Vol. 18. Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: pg. 30, fig. 11