Existing comment:
Making Buddhism Chinese
In China, large stone slabs known as steles were used to commemorate important events and people. Buddhists adopted this practice in the sixth century.
A group of Chinese Buddhists pooled their resources to sponsor this stele. Their goals, written in Chinese on the narrow sides of the slab, were to bring success to the emperor and peace to the empire.
The stele features the so-called Thousand Buddha motif, which became especially popular in China. On each side, rows of identical buddhas flank images of the Historical Buddha in the lower niches and of the Future Buddha Maitreya in the scenes above. Reflecting Buddhism's local relevance and Indian origins, the Historical Buddha wears Chinese robes with flowing sleeves that look like ribbons. In contrast, the many small, meditating buddhas wear Indian robes that cover one shoulder |