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Two standing figures
Northern Wei dynasty (386–514), ca. 516
Terracotta with pigments
Top: h. 8 7/8 in. (22.7 cm); bottom: h. 5 3/8 in. (13.8 cm)
Excavated at Yongningsi, Luoyang, Henan Province, 1979–94
Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
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North and South: late 5th–late 6th century
Politically the sixth century was a complicated period. Two dynasties,
the Liang (502–557) and the Chen (557–589) controlled the south.
In the north, the powerful Northern Wei empire flourished briefly in a new
capital, Luoyang, established in 494 in the center of China. By 534 internecine
strife between the Xianbei at the court and their more traditional brethren
posted in military centers led to the destruction of Luoyang and the division
of the north into a western half ruled by the Western Wei (535–556)
and the Northern Zhou (557–581) and an eastern half ruled by the Eastern
Wei (534–550) and the Northern Qi (550–557).
The construction of the imperial temple Yongningsi (Eternal Peace), built
in 516–17 by order of the Dowager Empress Ling, was one of the most
important achievements of the early sixth century. Although the temple was
destroyed by fire during the devastation of Luoyang, historical records
indicate that the pagoda was one of the wonders of Buddhist Asia. It towered
close to five hundred feet and was decorated with gold and semiprecious
jewels.
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