Panels from a Funerary Couch (Guanchuang)
Northern Wei dynasty (386–535); c. 525
Medium
Limestone
Dimensions
45.7 × 133 × 3.5 cm (18 × 52 3/16 × 1 3/8 in.)
Classification
stone
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
142531
Art Historical Context
Step into the solemn world of Northern Wei dynasty burial practices with these striking *Panels from a Funerary Couch (Guuang)*, carved around 525 CE from limestone. Dating to China's Northern Wei period (386–535), artifact once adorned a guanchuang—a ceremonial couch or bier used to carry the deceased to their tomb and serve as eternal furniture in the afterlife. 45.7 × 133 × 3.5 cm, these panels exemplify the era's masterful stone carving, blending utility with profound spiritual symbolism. The Northern Wei, ruled by the nomadic Xianbei Tuoba clan, marked a golden age for Buddhist art in no...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...