{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O74102"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O74102/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AH0970/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AH0970/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AH0970","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AH0966","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AH0962","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AH0960","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JV7290","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KX9943","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O74102/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O74102","accessionNumber":"A.9-1935","objectType":"Stele","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Many Chinese Buddhist artefacts were produced during a great period of expansion of the religion in China in the sixth century AD. This four-sided limestone column is one of the V&A's foremost Buddhist stone carvings. It was set at the side of a road in southern Shaanxi province in north China. This was done, the inscription on the stone tells us, 'so that all wayfarers may gaze upon the radiant countenance, without having to turn aside their steps, and that travellers, resting themselves at this spot, may venerate the sacred images, not needing to take another path, that whether they are clergy or laity their hearts may be influenced, and whether they be monks and nuns or unordained, they may look upon this column with repectful eyes'. A group of 26 Buddhist believers paid for the column, which bears their names carved in rows. The main carved decoration is of the Buddha on one side and of the religious debate between the Bodhisattva Manjusri (Chinese name: Wenshu), and the pious lay-believer Vimalakirti (Chinese name: Weimojie).","physicalDescription":"A four-sided Buddhist column of carved limestone. It is carved with Buddhist subjects, the principal (seated) figures being Sakyamuni (Buddha) on one side and the Bodhisattva Manjusri and Vimalakirti on another side. Twenty-six believers paid for the column which bears their names carved in rows upon its lower surfaces. There is an inscription which contains the date.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"limestone","id":"AAT11286"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Carved limestone","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[{"text":"Northern Wei","id":"AAT18409"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2006AH0970","2006AH0966","2006AH0962","2006AH0960","2017JV7290","2018KX9943"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"44 (VA)","id":"THES49802"},"free":"","case":"PL063","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Stele","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"520","earliest":"0520-01-01","latest":"0520-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased with Art Fund support, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"173.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Stele, carved limestone, China, Northen Wei dynasty (386-535), dated AD 520, ","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"一佛二菩薩","id":"CIT280929"},{"text":"佛","id":"CIT280971"},{"text":"菩薩","id":"CIT281328"},{"text":"站立 (人體姿勢)","id":"CIT278931"},{"text":"蓮座","id":"CIT281341"},{"text":"背光","id":"CIT288888"},{"text":"飛天","id":"CIT281428"},{"text":"樹木","id":"CIT279357"},{"text":"肉髻","id":"CIT0288701"},{"text":"手印","id":"CIT286343"},{"text":"袍","id":"CIT289580"},{"text":"腰巾","id":"CIT0292296"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["A.9-1935"],"accessionNumberNum":"9","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1935,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2026PN4272","2026PN1874","2026PM8832"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-06-08","recordCreationDate":"2003-02-09","availableToBook":false}}