Diplomatic relations of the Buddhist kingdom Northern Liang北涼: a research on the time of Juqu Mengxun’s 沮渠蒙遜 (368–433, r. 401–433) building stone Buddha for his Mother on Mount Tianti 天梯山

Abstract

ABSTRACT Northern Liang (397–439), known for its patronage of Buddhist translation and statuary, is undoubtedly an exceptional ‘Buddhist kingdom’ in the medieval history. On 9 October 2018, Guangming Ribao 光明日報 (Guangming Daily) published an article claiming that a Buddhist statue recently discovered on Mount Tianti in Wuwei by the founder of Northern Liang (i.e., Juqu Mengxun 沮渠蒙遜 [r. 401–433]). Juqu’s mother Lady Che 車氏 was perhaps from the Western Regions; and his wife Lady Peng 彭氏 was perhaps a Qiang descendant – both were from ethnicities that, during the medieval time, were predominantly Buddhists. Mount Tianti Grotto 天梯山石窟, also known as the ‘stone grotto of Northern Liang,’ is referred to by the modern archaeologist Su Bai 宿白 (1922–2018) as the epitome of the stone grotto of the ‘Northern Liang Model.’ Is it certain that the female Buddhist statue in question is the Queen Dowager? In this author’s opinion, this attribution is an overinterpretation and is also the result of misunderstanding of a set phrase used in the inscriptions of the statues of the Northern Dynasties (386–577).