Currently not on view
Stele of the Daoist Yuanshi Taizun by Li Yuanhai and Family,
572 (stone); late 19th to first half of 20th century (rubbing)
Chinese
Northern Wei dynasty, 386–535 CE
y1957-143 d
Information
Title
Stele of the Daoist Yuanshi Taizun by Li Yuanhai and Family
Dates
572 (stone); late 19th to first half of 20th century (rubbing)
Medium
Four hanging scrolls; ink rubbing on paper
Dimensions
image: 108.5 x 20.5 cm. (42 11/16 x 8 1/16 in.)
128.5 x 24.3 cm. (50 9/16 x 9 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of George Rowley
Object Number
y1957-143 d
Place Made
Asia, China
Inscription
a. Donor inscriptions to be recorded.
b. (front)
盖沖虛寂莫之道，昏卵
未能明；應感顯迹之真，
群生信其德。是以元始
開化，普教無窮；津益有
縁，存亡仰頼。謹有道民
李元海兄弟七人等，奉
法愆違，禍罰早鍾，考妣
俱背，奄盈數載，慈顏永
遠，終天网極。仰惟掬育
之恩，靡知上報，敢竭周
身之物，採石首陽之[阿]，
仰為亡考妣造 元始
天尊像碑一區。藉此微
功，愿亡靈昇度，受化仙
庭，逍遥无為，与真合德；
慶流見在，來葉芳榮，官
學名通，家國同美；存亡
獲福，降佑精誠，逮及含
生，俱成正道。
周建德元年嵗次壬辰九月庚子朔十五日甲寅造記。
Transcription follows with minor modifications Li Xiaorong 李小荣, Dunhuang daojiao wenxue yanjiu 敦煌道教文学研究 (Chengdu: Bashu shuju, 2009), p. 212, which is based with modifications on Li Song 李凇, “Meiguo sanjia bowuguan suojian Zhongguo daojiao diaoke” 美國三家博物館所見中國道教雕刻, in Li Song’s Chang’an yishu yu zongjiao wenming长安艺术与宗教文明 (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 2002), p. 497.
Donor inscriptions to be recorded.
c. Donor inscriptions to be recorded.
d. Donor inscriptions to be recorded.
Marks/Labels/Seals
Outer titleslips
a-d. 六朝周建德元年李元海造象
Culture
Period
Type
