Sumeru Throne

Xumizuo (simplified Chinese: 须弥座; traditional Chinese: 須彌座; pinyin: Xūmízùo; Sanskrit: Sumeru-pīṭha; from Sumeru, the cosmic mountain in Buddhist cosmology), also known as a Sumeru throne or Sumeru pedestal, is a high, elaborate pedestal or plinth commonly found in the traditional architecture and sculpture of China, Japan, and Korea. It originated as a Buddhist altar base and is typically used for important structures such as palace halls, main temple halls, pagodas, huabiao columns, steles, stone lions, and gate piers.^[1] Symbolising Mount Sumeru, the centre of the Buddhist universe, it conveys ideas of supremacy and stability. Xumizuo bases are often richly carved with Buddhist figures and narrative scenes.

The Xumizuo (Sumeru pedestal) of a stone lion

Xumizuo of an overturned-bowl-style stupa

Xumizuo decoration on a building at Fu Jen Catholic University

Diechuang (stacked corbelled courses) for a platform base in the Yingzao Fashi

The pedestal is usually square in plan, wide at the top and bottom, and progressively recessed inward layer by layer. The narrowest central section is called the bundled waist (束腰, shùyāo). Below the waist is typically an upward-facing lotus (仰莲, yǎnglián), while above it is a downward-facing lotus (伏莲, fúlián).

History and development

The earliest examples appear in Northern Dynasties (4th–6th century) cave temples, where the form was relatively simple (e.g., Cave 6 at the Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi). The design grew increasingly complex and ornate through the Sui and Tang periods.^[1]

During the Song dynasty, the architect Li Jie codified the proportions and construction of the xumizuo in the official manual Yingzao Fashi (1103):^[2] > “The construction of a stacked xumizuo: total height thirteen brick courses. Begin with two bricks stood upright side-by-side as the standard. From the lowest layer flush with the ground: one layer of plain belly bricks, then one layer of angular-tooth bricks recessed 1 cun inward from the belly bricks; then one layer of covered-tooth bricks projecting 0.3 cun beyond the angular-tooth bricks; then one layer of combined-lotus bricks recessed 1.5 cun from the covered-tooth bricks; then one layer of waist bricks recessed 1 cun from the combined-lotus; then one layer of upward-lotus bricks projecting 0.7 cun beyond the waist; then three layers of niche-pillar bricks recessed 1.5 cun from the upward-lotus; then one layer of overhanging corbel bricks projecting 0.1 cun beyond the pillars; finally two layers of upper flat corbel bricks projecting 0.5 cun beyond the overhanging layer.”

From the Yuan dynasty onward, the form tended to become simpler.^[1] Typical Qing dynasty xumizuo consist of six main layers (from bottom to top):

• guījiao (圭角, pointed corners)
• lower fang (下枋)
• lower xiao (下枭, with upward lotus petals)
• bundled waist (束腰)
• upper xiao (上枭, with downward lotus petals)
• upper fang (上枋)

The proportional heights are roughly 10:8:6:8:6:9.^[1][3]

Modern and secular use

By the Ming and Qing periods, xumizuo were widely used on non-religious buildings. Any stone plinth with carved reliefs (especially at the corners and waist) is generally classified as a xumizuo. For example, the relief sculptures on the Monument to the People's Heroes in Tiananmen Square are mounted on the bundled-waist section of its xumizuo base.

See also

• Lotus throne