Niches 37, 38, 39, and 40, Beishan Rock Carvings (北山石刻)

This complex of niches is located in Beishan Rock Carvings (北山石刻), Fowan (佛灣), Dazu (大足) District, Chongqing. Niche 37: Five images. The central figure is Kṣitigarbha (Chinese: Dicang pusa 地藏菩薩). The bodhisattva sits on a Sumeru throne in a Lalitasana position, wearing a hood and holding a staff in his right hand. A beast is depicted on its right side. A standing figure whose head is damaged is on Kṣitigarbha’s left-hand side. It wears a robe and makes an Añjali Mudra (Chinese: heshi 合十). A pair of feitian 飛天 (Sanskrit: apsaras) are carved on the niche lintel. There is also a standing figure with an Añjali Mudra outside the niche. Inscriptions indicating it is a shrine of Kṣitigarbha dated to 940 CE, during the Later Shu dynasty (後蜀廣政三年) are found on the wall between niches 37 and 38. Source: Dazu shike yanjiuyuan 大足石刻研究院. Dazu shike quanji 大足石刻全集 [Dazu Rock Carvings] Edited by Li Fangyin 黎方銀. 10 vols. Vol. 1-1, Chongqing: Chongqing chubanshe, 2018, p. 163. Niche 38: Twenty-five figures are depicted. A Buddha standing statue flanked by two attendants and two bodhisattvas is carved on the central wall. The Buddha wears a double-collar drooping cassock and holds a staff in his right hand, standing on a lotus pedestal. His halo is peach-shaped and trimmed with flame patterns. The female attendant on the Buddha’s left wears a crown, while the male attendant on the right is dressed in a monk’s robe. Both attendants hold Añjali mudras and their halos are circular. The bodhisattvas next to them are similar in appearance, but the objects held in front of their chest are unclear. Ten smaller figures are depicted on each side to accompany the group of figures on the central wall. Their identities are unknown due to severe erosion. Niche 39: Twelve figures are depicted. A Buddha wearing a double-collar drooping cassock and holding an octagon dharma wheel with both hands is carved in the central wall. The Buddha is seated on a lotus throne. Four standing figures are depicted on the left side wall, while the right side wall has four figures. All of them are severely damaged. A pair of feitian are carved on the niche lintel. Inscriptions indicating it is a shrine of Blazing Light Buddha (Chinese: Da wei de chi sheng guang fo 大威德熾盛光佛) dated to 922 CE of Former Shu dynasty (前蜀乾德四年) are found on the wall between niches 39 and 40. Source: Dazu shike yanjiuyuan. Dazu shike quanji. Edited by Li Fangyin. Vol. 1-1, p. 171. Niche 40: Six figures are depicted. A central Buddha statue with a damaged head sitting on a double lotus throne holds a meditation mudra. The older standing disciple on the Buddha’s left side is seemingly Mahākāśyapa, while the younger one on the right should be Ānanda. Both hold Añjali Mudras. The two bodhisattvas on the sides are severely damaged. There is a smaller standing figure on the right side of the niche frame. Descriptions of the photos: Key to the niches [1] Overview the niches [2] Close-up of niches 37 (right) and 38 (left) [3] Metadata created by: Sau Ling Wendy Yu.Non UBCUnreviewedAuthor Affiliations: Ghent University, The University of Hong KongFacult