□ The bear made the stone Buddha of Infinite Life

[□ Bear made stone Buddha of Infinite Life]

□ Bear made stone Buddha of Infinite Life, in the 25th year of Yuanjia (448) of the Southern Dynasty • Song Dynasty, with a height of 65 cm and a width of 44 cm
This statue is the Buddha of Infinite Life. It is equipped with the head, hands and the upper part of the backlight after repair. Wearing a “U” shaped full-shoulder cassock, practicing meditation seals with both hands, and sitting with folded hands. On the right side is a flanking Bodhisattva. The bodhisattva’s cloth flutters on the head, twines around his arms and hangs down. The lower part is a rectangular base with a lotus on the edge. The front side is embossed with two lions and a Boshan stove. The left side is embossed with eight donors, standing together. The right side and the back side are engraved with a written vow, which contains the words “On July 23, the 25th year of Yuanjia, Jinfeng County □ Xiong made unlimited longevity”. According to the 38th volume of the Song Book, Jinfeng County belongs to Shikang County of Yizhou (Chengdu, Sichuan), which was established during the reign of Emperor Andi of the Western Jin Dynasty. This image was originally found in Chengdu, Sichuan, collected by Wang Yirong, then returned to Duanfang, and included in the “Stone Collection in Taozhai”. After Duanfang died, it was bought back by Wang Hanfu, the son of Wang Yirong. The following collectors were Zhou Jimu and Xie Guoyan, and Xie Yu, the daughter of Xie Guoyan, donated them to the Palace Museum. There were few inscriptions found in the Song Dynasty of the Southern Dynasty, so this image was highly valued by epigrapists. The National Library and other institutions have collections like early rubbings. From the perspective of Buddhist art history, its clothing and shape are influenced by external factors, which is one of the important examples of early Buddhist statues in southern China