Styles of Buddha Statues in the Northern Wei
Points to note:
- Buddha statues were slim
- Faces of Buddha were not Chinese-looking
- Monks were likely to be slim
- Carriages were ornate but simple in design
Longmen Caves near Luoyang is one of the best known areas of Buddhist sculpture in China. There are a number of statues dating back to the Northern Wei, including the Buddha statue shown below.
Northern Wei Buddha Statue, Cave 140, Longmen Caves, Luoyang (Alex Amies)
Cave 140 at Longmen Caves has a wonderful collection of statues and the murals on the walls are relatively well preserved. This cave is probably the best preserved cave with Northern Wei artwork at Longmen.
Statues, Cave 140, Longmen Caves (Alex Amies)
Qingzhou in Shangdong province was an important center for Buddhism in the Northern Wei and many archaeological finds, like the statues below, during this period come from the Qingzhou area.
Buddha and Bodhisattvas, Qingzhou, Northern Wei (Alex Amies)
The statues from Qingzhou above and below were carved in stone and decorated with paint and gold leaf.
Buddha Image, Qingzhou, Northern Wei (Alex Amies)
The statues from Qingzhou above and below were on display in the National Museum of China, Beijing. Many of the artifacts discovered at Qingzhou are kept in the Qingzhou Museum, Shangdong.
Buddha Head, Qingzhou, Northern Wei (Alex Amies)
The bodhisattva statue below is made from bronze with gold leaf.
Guilt Bronze Bodhisattva, Northern Wei (Alex Amies)
Bronze Buddha Statue, 504 CE, Northern Wei (Alex Amies)
Last edited on June 1, 2012