Daoist Stele of Five Deities
Can I see it?
Yes, on view now
Where is “Daoist Stele of Five Deities” now? Minneapolis Institute of Art, G201, Minneapolis. Yes, on view now. Checked September 29, 2026.
Minneapolis, United States
Open now· until 5:00 PM
On public display.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the sculpture
As religious Daoism evolved during the Six Dynasties and Tang period (c. 4th-8th centuries), a sculptural tradition developed that was closely modeled after contemporary Buddhist prototypes. This rare, dated, stele is carved in the middle with the Supreme Elder Deity seated in dhyanasana on a raised lotus pedestal with two apsaras overhead in a pose similar to a Buddha. Flanking the central image are four further deities, probably Celestial Worthies, holding kui tablets, or zodiac gods standing on smaller lotus pedestals.
The lengthy dedicatory inscriptions dates the stele to 722 and names the two donors as Yang Chien-tu and Yang Chien-tsang who were probably brothers. Female members of their family are also listed. The two brothers may be represented by the two donor figures lightly incised to the left and right of the inscription.
Read on
It can be assumed that the basic format seen here with a large figure of a Supreme Elder flanked by four attendants was borrowed from a prevailing style of Buddhist sculpture, in which a central Buddha was flanked by smaller figures of Bodhisattvas.
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Details
- Accession number
- 2003.30
In the catalog
Sources
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
- Image: Minneapolis Institute of Art — public domain
