Mahakala Statue at Baocheng Temple, Buddhist deity statue in Hangzhou, China

The Mahakala statue at Baocheng Temple is a rock-cut niche with three figures: Mahakala in the centre, flanked by Manjushri and Samantabhadra. Carved in 1322, it sits on the southeastern slope of Wushan in Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, with a Chinese inscription on the north wall of the niche.

The statue received official recognition in 2001 when Chinese authorities designated it as a nationally protected cultural site. This designation reflects its importance within China's religious heritage.

Mahakala is the Sanskrit name for the Tibetan Buddhist protector deity known in Chinese as Dahei Tian, and under the Yuan dynasty he was worshipped as a god of war. The three-figure group places him between the bodhisattvas Wenshu and Puxian, and a Chinese inscription on the north wall of the niche records the dedication.

The statue sits inside Baocheng Temple on the southeastern slope of Wushan in Shangcheng District, Hangzhou. The three figures occupy a single niche, with the Chinese inscription on the north wall of the niche, so look there after viewing the central figure. The site is a protected national relic, not a working tour attraction.

The niche holds three figures, not one: Mahakala in the centre with Manjushri and Samantabhadra flanking him. On the north wall of the niche a Chinese inscription survives, and the 1322 date carved there makes this the only Mahakala statue in China with a recorded year.