Henan province, Northern Xiangtangshan, Central Cave
Northern Qi dynasty (550-77), ca. 550-60
Limestone with pigment
This head once belonged to a towering bodhisattva who
presided over the entrance to the Central Cave at Northern
Xiangtangshan. This extremely remote site consisted of only
three cave temples, all of which housed colossal figural
sculptures. Northern Xiangtangshan is strategically located
on the route between Ye and Jinyang, in Shanxi province, and
the scenic area is known to have served as a summer retreat.
Before the construction of the caves at the beginning of the
Northern Qi period, it also may have been a place for meditation
or other Buddhist activities.