The
Vimalakirti Sutra, central to
Mahayana Buddhism was translated by the monk
Kumārajīva in his time in
Chang'an (
Xi'an) during the 4th-5th centuries. The Zhao Jianxi Stele was erected during the fourth month of the reign of
Emperor Xiaowu of Northern Wei (Yongxi), in the year 533 AD. In typical Northern Wei fashion, the figures have the
archaic smile, to symbolize spiritual attainment and benevolence. The base of the stele has six donors, two groups of three facing the center, each ornately dressed accompanied by an earth spirit with an incense burner. Flanking the scenes next to the donor is the monk
Śāriputra and an unidentified disciple. There are 56 donor names, many tied to the Zhao family, and the Buddhist clergy. The inscription identifies Zhao Jianxi, Zhao Wenyin, Zhao Hongxian and an unknown Zhao family member as the lay devotees dedicating the stone to their grandfather, with the stele being simultaneously an offering as well as a gesture for enlightenment. The backside of the stele depicts the miracles and scenes depicted in the chapters of the Vimalakitri Sutra and the commentaries, such as the Buddha purifying impure land (Chapter 1 of the Commentaries), bodhisattvas sitting on lion seats in differently (Chapter 6), a meal in the Fragrance Lands (Chapter 16), and a Goddess scattering flowers (Chapter 12). The stele blends the Vimalakitri Sutra with local beliefs common during the Northern Wei, with Buddhist imagery accompanied by heavenly birds and dancers associated with
Taoism and
ancestral worship. == References ==