Tang Dynasty Statues in Baoqing Temple, Xi'an (12)

Important Cultural Property

1

limestone

Overall height 109.0 Overall width 92.0 Overall depth 12.0 Image height (middle) 38.5 (left attendant) 46.5 (right attendant) 46.5

Tang Dynasty 8th century

Baoqing Temple in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China

Tokyo National Museum

TC-771

Due to the influence of the art of the Gupta Dynasty in India, the stone Buddha group of Baoqing Temple is well-known as a representative work of Buddhist sculpture in the prosperous Tang Dynasty due to its realistic and rich physical expression and rich decorative creativity.

The stone Buddha group is a solemn symbol inside the Qibaotai built in the third year of Chang'an (703) by Wu Zetian (Empress Zetian Wu), who replaced the Tang Dynasty and founded the Zhou Dynasty in Guangzhai Temple, Guangzhaifang, Chang'an City. Later, the stone Buddha group was moved to Baoqing Temple (Huata Temple) in Anrenfang, Xi'an (Chang'an), and was housed in the brick tower and Buddhist hall of the temple, but most of the stone Buddha group went abroad in the early 20th century. At present, a total of 32 works including the three-style Sakyamuni descending the devil statue, Maitreya leaning statue, Amitabha sitting statue, and eleven-faced Guanyin statue have been confirmed. Several of the works are marked with the chronological inscriptions of the 3rd year, 4th year (703, 704) of Chang'an and 12th year of Kaiyuan (724), but there are also inscriptions of the Kaiyuan year with additional engraving, so some people think that the time of the statue was made For the Chang'an period.

The construction status of Guangzhai Temple and its statues reflect the policy of Wu Zetian, who combined with the Buddhist world to launch the Wuzhou Revolution. It is a very precious historical material for studying the original state of Buddhism at that time.

Important Cultural Property of Japan No.: 00102