Nanchan Temple: Difference between revisions

Along with nearby [[Foguang Temple]], Nanchan Temple contains original sculptures dating from the Tang dynasty. The hall contains seventeen statues and are lined up on an inverted U-shaped dais.{{sfn|Howard|Li|Wu|Yang|2006|p=371}} The largest statue is of [[The Buddha|Sakyamuni]], placed in the center of the hall sitting cross-legged on a sumeru throne adorned with sculpted images of a lion and demigod. Above the large halo behind the statue are sculpted representations of [[Nelumbo nucifera|lotus]] flowers, celestial beings and mythical birds. Flanking him on each side are attendant [[bodhisattva]]s with a knee placed on a lotus. A large statue of [[Samantabhadra (Bodhisattva)|Samantabhadra]] riding an elephant is at the far left of the hall and a large statue of [[Manjushri]] riding a lion is on the far left. There are also statues of two of Sakyamuni's disciples ([[Ānanda]] and [[Mahākāśyapa]]), two statues of heavenly kings and four statues of attendants.{{sfn|Howard|Li|Wu|Yang|2006|p=372}} Of the seventeen original Tang statues, three of them were stolen in 1999 and have not been recovered (left and right side attendant bodhisattvas on lotus, an attendant statue leading the lion).

The Great Buddha Hall also contains one small carved [[Northern Wei]] stone [[pagoda]] that is five levels high. The first level is carved with a story about the Buddha, and each corner contains an additional small pagoda. Each side of the second level is carved with one large Buddha in the center, flanked with four smaller Buddhas on each side. The upper three levels have three carved Buddhas on each side.{{sfn|Zhao|2007|p=146}} The stone pagoda was stolen in 2011 and has not been recovered.<gallery>