A Single Pebble and the Single Pebble Village
Civilization: The Three Gorges", that the niche is "8.5m tall by 5.5m wide and 2.5m deep". Childs-Johnson continues to describe the niche which she says "hugs a cliff on the south bank of the Yangtze and encloses a monumental, 7.5m tall Seated Future Buddha, Maitreya (Chinese Milofu) flanked by the standing disciples, Ananda and Kasypa, and carved by artist Zou Xing."
"The Future Buddha is seated on a dais, with legs pendant," continues Childs-Johnson, "The face is square to round and the head covered by spiral curls characteristic of a Buddha. The eyes are almost closed with a serene look that penetrates the ever flowing waters of the Yangtze. One hand rests on his knee and the other right hand is held up in the fear-not gesture. Flanking disciples hold their hands in the prayer mudra."
A stairway rises from the bank of the river to the stone platform where the Maitreya Buddha sits, surveying the countryside. Ages ago, this niche was probably covered by a large wooden awning and the figures were likely painted. Now, it stands alone.
This niche is thought to date back to the late 14th century. At that time, the area would have been inhabited by the Ba people, a culture the world is just beginning to discover through archaeological excavations in the Three Gorges Region.
To some branches of the Buddhist faith, the Maitreya, or Future Buddha, is largely thought of as a savior. They believe there will come a time when the Maitreya Buddha descends from Heaven to deliver the people from the evils of the world. The Maitreya in the Buddhist faith is similar to the Christ figure in the Christian tradition, the Messiah in the Jewish, Krishna in the Hindu and the Imam Mahdi in the Muslim.
"This heroic sculpture of Maitreya Buddha looming over the Yangtze, the 10,000 mile long river, at Single Pebble Village is testimony not only to great Buddhist sculpture, especially rare in this part of the south during the Yuan, but to Chinese politics that depended on Buddhist belief to promote political salvation." Childs-Johnson writes.
Religious belief is ingrained in every part of a Buddhist's life. For people living in a society like that of the US, where separation of church and state is a given, it may be hard to imagine this level of religious involvement and dedication. This is part of the tragedy at Single Pebble Village.
The niche
Latest Articles