Art

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