Artist: Unknown
Title: Fenxian Tung (Cave 19),Vairochana Buddha's Attendant, Arhat Ananda
Material: hard limestone
Site: Longmen, Henan
Current Location:
Period/Date: Dedicated in 675 C.E., Tang dynasty
Iconography/Iconology: The youthful Ananda, Shakyamuni's cousin, joined the Buddhist community as a teenager and remained a faithful attendent throughout the Buddha's life. He is credited with having memorized the vast majority of Buddhist sutras (texts that record sermons of the Buddha Shakyamuni). The formulaic introductions to all sutras, "Thus I have heard," refers directly to Ananda beginning the recitation of all sutras. In China, Ananda's presence, beside Shakyamuni/Vairochana, not only commemorates the arhats and their contributions, but also attests the validity to the sutra tradition for transmitting Shakyamuni's teachings. The corresponding arhat, Kashyapa, is widely appreciated in China as the one through whom the Chan (Zen) tradition was transmitted. He is held as the first Indian patriarch of Chan Buddhism.
Stylistic Comments: The figure of Ananda is portrayed in a realistic manner, with the drapery flowing realistically across the body and a rather large, but otherwise realistic head.
