Head of an attendant bodhisattva

ca. 565–75
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 206
Both the Eastern Wei (535–50) and the Northern Qi dynasties were ruled from a capital at Ye (presentday Linzhang) in southern Hebei province; both sponsored the construction of new cave temples. The complex built at Xiangtangshan (not far from the capital) dates from the Northern Qi period. It consists of two sites: the three enormous cave temples at the top of the mountain are known as Northern Xiangtangshan, while an additional seven smaller shrines, about nine miles to the south, are known as Southern Xiangtangshan. This head comes from the southern site, which was constructed slightly later.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 北齊 彩繪石雕菩薩頭像
  • Title: Head of an attendant bodhisattva
  • Period: Northern Qi dynasty (550–577)
  • Date: ca. 565–75
  • Culture: China
  • Medium: Limestone with pigment
  • Dimensions: H. 15 in. (38.1 cm); W. 11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm); D. 8 1/4 in. (21 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1914
  • Object Number: 14.50
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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