Art

  • Dharmapala Yama
  • Dakini Vasya-Vajravarahi
  • Standing Tara
  • Buddhist Pocket-sized Prayer Altar
  • Kannon, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Portrait of the Abbot Ennin
  • The Descent of Buddha Amida
  • Buddha Shakyamuni as a Newborn Infant
  • Vijaya Stupa
  • Buddha Shakyamuni with Scenes from his Life
  • Buddha Vairocana
  • Buddha Dipankara, the Buddha of the Past
  • Sakya Pandita (1182–1252)
  • Stela Showing Scenes from the Life of the Buddha
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Meditating Under the Bodhi Tree
  • Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, as the Patron of fishermen
  • The Three Buddhas Dipankara, Shakyamuni, and Maitreya
  • Guhyamanjuvajra
  • The Arhats Bakula, Rahula, Cudapanthaka, and Pindola From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Jizo Bosatsu, Bodhisattva in the Guise of a Monk
  • State Oracle Garment
  • The Transcendent Buddha Akshobhya
  • Buddha Shakyamuni From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Buddhist Votive Stela of the Yan Family
  • Bodhidharma
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • The Ascetic Milarepa
  • The Bodhisattva of Compassion as the Bringer of Sons
  • Monumental Head of a Bodhisattva
  • Shaka Nyorai, the Historical Buddha
  • Yakshi, Nymph with Lotus Flowers, fragment of a baluster
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Sheltered by the Serpent-King
  • Zen Priest in a Golden Wrap
  • Votive Stela with Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Attains Awakening Under the Bodhi Tree
  • Taima Mandala, the Buddha Amida’s Paradise
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Tames the Wild Elephant Nalagiri
  • Relief of the Five Transcendent Buddhas
  • The Arhats Panthaka, Gopaka, Nagasena, and Abheda From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Baisajyaguru, the Medicine Buddha
  • Dharmatala and two lokapalas From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Stupa
  • Gendün Gyatso, the 2nd Dalai Lama (1476–1542)
  • The Buddha Invokes the Earth Goddess as his Witness
  • Amida Nyorai, Buddha of the Western Paradise
  • Head of a Lokeshvara
  • Head of a Buddha
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Mara’s Daughters Tempt the Buddha
  • Buddhist Votive Tablet
  • Head of a Monk
  • Buddhist Monastic Rules from the Pali Canon
  • Bodhidharma Crosses the Yangtze River on a Reed
  • Praying Priest
  • Padmasambhava
  • Bust of a Luohan
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • The Descent of Buddha Amida
  • Buddha Maitreya
  • Great Stupa at Sanchi
  • Dharani Sutra of the Heart of the Perfection of Insight
  • Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Excerpt from the Lotus Sutra
  • Standing Bodhisattva
  • The Four Excursions
  • Pancha Raksha Manuscript
  • Head of the Buddha
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Empress Jito, from the series “Parody of the Ogura Version of ‘One Hundred Poets, One Hundred Poems’ ”
  • Standing Buddha
  • The 4th Dalai Lama Yonten Gyatso (1589–1617)
  • Shakyamuni Enters Nirvana
  • Standing Monk with Hands Folded
  • Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion in the Posture of Royal Ease
  • Jambhala, the God of Wealth
  • Green Tara (Shyama Tara)
  • Printing Block for a Prayer from the Text “Embodiment of the Three Jewels” by Jatson Nyingpo (1585–1656)
  • Travel Shrine
  • The Prophecy of the Buddha Dipankara
  • Ceremonial Dagger Featuring the God of Death
  • The Layman Huashang and Two Lokapalas From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • The Buddha’s Parinirvana
  • Buddhist Votive Tablet
  • Gazelle
  • Plaque Showing the Buddha Teaching
  • Standing Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Large Votive Stupa
  • Rectangular Coin
  • Sitatara, White Tara
  • Buddha Shakyamuni 
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Seated Bodhisattva
  • Seated Bodhisattva
  • Budai
  • The Prophecy of the Wise Asita
  • Standing Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Portrait of the Zen Priest Gemmon Doyu
  • Prince Siddhartha’s Wedding
  • Standing Buddha Amida
  • Half-length Portrait of the Zen Patriarch Bodhidharma
  • Hotei
  • Buddhist Monk
  • Head of the Buddha
  • Buddha Shakyamuni and the Earth-Touching Gesture
  • The Arhats Kanakavasta, Vajriputra, Kanaka Bharadvaja, and Bhadra From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Stupa
  • The Buddha Begins Teaching
  • The Death of the Buddha
  • Padmasambhava with his 25 Tibetan Pupils From a series of 7 thangkas
  • Female Monkey with Her Young
  • Vajradhara, the Primordial Buddha
  • The Bodhisattva of Compassion Sitting in Meditation
  • Padmasambhava with his 25 Tibetan Pupils From a series of 7 thangkas
  • Head of a Bodhisattva
  • Machig Labdrön
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Invokes the Earth Goddess as his Witness
  • Standing Buddha Shakyamuni
  • The Four Pleasures of Nan Shenglu (detail)
  • Monastic Rules for Monks
  • Buddha Shakyamuni at the Moment of his Awakening
  • Ushnishavijaya
  • Six Persimmons
  • Votive Stela Depicting Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Hotei, One of the Gods of Good Fortune, with Child
  • Shyamatara, Green Tara
  • Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom
  • Thangka of the Twenty-One Taras
  • Leaving for Homelessness
  • Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Mahasiddha Virupa
  • Vase with Lotus Vines and the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism
  • Shyamatara, Green Tara
  • The Arhats Vanavasin, Angaja, Kalika, and Ajita From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara
Votive Stela Depicting Buddha Shakyamuni

Votive Stela Depicting Buddha Shakyamuni

Monks, bodhisattvas, and guardian figures surround the Buddha on this almost 1,500-year old stela from China. Each one of them is a member of the Buddhist community in his own special way. 

Audio Description

https://rietberg.fluxguide.com/fluxguide/Icon Audiodeskription

What is the story behind this crowded stone panel?

https://rietberg.fluxguide.com/fluxguide/Votive Stela Depicting Buddha Shakyamuni

You’re at the Museum Rietberg, standing before this work of art?

Rear of the Votive Stela

https://rietberg.fluxguide.com/fluxguide/Rear of the Votive Stela

Main hall of Changle monastery, northern Xiangtangshan, Henan province, China

https://rietberg.fluxguide.com/fluxguide/Main hall of Changle monastery, northern Xiangtangshan, Henan province, China

Votive stelae were erected in the courtyard of a Buddhist temple but you also often found them standing in a village or at a crossroads.