Stele with Buddhas of the Past, Present and Future

Object Details

• Label

  An inscription on the back of this stela, or large stone tablet, states that it was made for patrons from Quyang, in Hebei Province, and provides the date of 565. The white marble is typical of Buddhist images from the mid-sixth century in this area, but the unusual iconography has raised questions by some twentieth-century scholars as to the authenticity of the sculpture. A general consensus, however, holds that the work is genuine. A distinctive iconographic feature of Quyang works is paired images. In this case the main motif consists of pensive, seated bodhisattvas (enlightened beings).

  These dual figures probably represent Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, as a bodhisattva in a heavenly realm awaiting rebirth on earth. An openwork backdrop is formed by two trees supporting a pagoda (the Chinese version of the Indian stupa, or burial mound), which is occupied by two Buddha figures. Flanking dragons spew long garlands that are held aloft by flying celestials. Beneath the pagoda, a niche contains images of the Buddhas of the Past and the Present. The pagoda and niche are each upheld by muscular figures adopted from Indian images of yaksas (male nature deities).

  The base is carved with an incense burner supported by a brawny figure framed by lions, meditative individuals, and guardians. On the back of the base, in addition to the inscription of 565, a Ming dynasty rededication of the image dated to 1516 appears beginning with the eleventh line from the right.

• Provenance

  To 1913

  Yamanaka & Company, New York to 1913 [1]

  From 1913 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Yamanaka & Company, New York in 1913 [2]

  From 1920

  The Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] Undated folder sheet note. See S.I. 404, Original Miscellaneous List, pg. 127.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Promise of Paradise (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  Promise of Paradise: Early Chinese Buddhist Sculpture (December 1, 2012 to January 3, 2016)

  Chinese Buddhist Sculpture in New Light (April 14, 2002 to September 8, 2003)

  Studies in Connoisseurship 1923-1983 (September 23, 1983 to March 1, 1984)

  Chinese Art (January 1, 1963 to March 6, 1981)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Buddhist Sculpture, 1944 (March 13, 1944 to November 14, 1944)

  Stone Sculpture, Gallery 17, 1923 (May 2, 1923 to November 17, 1955)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Yamanaka and Co. 山中商会 (1917-1965) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Quyang, Hebei province, China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Sculpture

• On View

  Freer Gallery 17: Promise of Paradise

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  500s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Yamanaka and Co.

• Place

  Quyang, China, Hebei province

• Topic

  Cats, Art, Chinese Art, Northern Qi dynasty (550 - 577), Prabhutaratna Buddha, Stone, Bodhisattva, Dragon, Charles Lang Freer collection, Animals, Maitreya Buddha, Anjali mudra, Pagoda

• Culture

  Buddhists, Chinese, Apsarases

• Object Type

  Sculpture

• On View

  Yes