Niche of a buddha triad

This stone niche is a typical example of Chinese Buddhist sculpture from the Tang dynasty (618–907). Featuring the Buddha Amitabha seated on a pedestal, flanked by two bodhisattvas, it was among the stone niches that once decorated the inner walls of the main hall of Baoqing Temple in Xi’an, China. They are sculpted in mid-relief within the niche, with prayers carved underneath. This buddha triad originally adorned the Qibaotai pagoda in Guangzhai Temple, built around 703–704 by Wu Zetian, an empress who reigned from 690 to 705.

— Museum description: Kyushu National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.