CHINE, XXÈME SIÈCLE

This current rubbing is replica of the renowned stone relief by Cao Wangxi, dated in the sixth year of the Zhengguang reign of the Northern Wei Dynasty (525). The original sculpture is described as "the Statue of Maitreya Made by Cao Wangxi, county prefect of Xiangwei, Bairen, military commander of Wei County, Qizhou." Unfortunately, the Maitreya figure has been lost in the history, leaving only the base. The stone base is intricately carved, with the front and sides depicting a deity emerging from a lotus while holding an incense burner. Flanking this central figure are two lions and two golden-winged phoenix. On the left and right sides of the base, male and female donors are shown in a posture of reverence. The back is carved with an inscription dated to the sixth year of the Zhengguang reign (525). Originally discovered in a private house in Linzi County, Shandong Province, the stone was first described by Sun Xingyan in his book Stele Rubbings in the Universe. At the time, it was embedded in the wall of a villager’s house in Tonglin Village, with only the inscribed side visible. In the eleventh year of the Tongzhi reign (1872), Chen Jieqi acquired the stone, after which four complete rubbings were made. During the early Republic period, the statue base was sold to France, resulting in the original rubbings becoming increasingly rare. The stone base is currently housed in the University of Pennsylvania Museum (object no. C145), making it one of the most significant Chinese stone carvings.