GaoPing Thousand Buddha Sculpture Stele

GaoPing Thousand Buddha Sculpture Stele

The GaoPing Thousand Buddha Sculpture Stele is a cultural relic protected at the provincial level in Shanxi Province.

Thousand Buddha Sculpture Stele

Thousand Buddha Sculpture Stele (Second Batch Provincial-Level Protected Cultural Relic)

Period: Northern Wei Dynasty

Location: Jianning Village, 15 kilometers northeast of Gaoping City

This stele was carved in the 20th year of the Taihe era of the Northern Wei Dynasty (496 AD), boasting a history of over 1,500 years. The stele stands 2.5 meters tall, has a trapezoidal shape, with a semi-circular top, a bottom width of 1.08 meters, and a thickness of 0.68 meters. All four sides of the stele are carved with Buddha images, totaling approximately 1,608 figures. The lower part of the front side features a large niche housing one Buddha and two disciples. The reverse side mirrors the front, with inscriptions on both sides of the large niche. The left and right sides of the stele have the names of donors carved at the bottom, still clearly legible. The middle section contains two tiers of niches, flanked by inscriptions. This stele features a unique design and exquisitely crafted Buddha sculptures, making it a precious artwork in the treasure trove of sculptural art. However, it is now severely weathered.

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Cultural Relics of Shanxi Province