Buddhist Pentad

Northern Qi, 550-577 AD
Shanghai Museum

Although less refined than the example on the previous page, this example is also from the same dynasty. The Buddha sits upon a draped throne, flanked by generic disciples and bodhisattvas. His shallowly-incised halo, part missing, is of the five-buddha type. His right hand extends in varada, the missing left in abhaya (the reverse of the usual handedness). The base of the stele depicts an offering procession with horse, cart, umbrella-bearers, guards (at each end of the base), and other attendants and participants (closeup below).