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In 1996 one of the most significant archaeological finds of the 20th century
was made by chance in the city of Qingzhou (pronounced ching-joh)
in Shandong province, one of the cradles of ancient Chinese civilisation.
While levelling a sports field in Shefan primary school, a group of construction
workers discovered a pit filled to the brim with stone Buddhist sculptures.
Almost all the figures were made locally, carved from the
fine-grained grey limestone that is still quarried around Qingzhou.
A few fragments of Tang dynasty figures were made of granite,
presumably imported from northern Shandong. The marble figures,
also dating from the 6th century, were imports from
the neighbouring province of Hebei.
glossary
abhaya mudra mudra stele
gesture of dispelling fear a ‘seal’ or gesture made with the hand an upright stone slab or tablet
carved in relief
apsara nimbus
supernatural being associated a halo or cloud surrounding the ushnisha
with clouds and the heavens Buddha which indicates his holy state bulge or bump on the Buddha’s
head symbolising his wisdom and
mandorla pagoda supreme enlightenment
an almond- or leaf-shaped a building designed to house
background which frames the Buddhist relics and a symbol of varada mudra
figures and signifies their holiness the faith. They are often seen floating gesture of munificence
in the clouds above the Buddha
cat no 12 (detail). Courtesy Qingzhou Municipal Museum & Shandong Provincial Museum