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Unknown Maker, Chinese

Head of Buddha
Now On View

Maker

Unknown Maker, Chinese

Culture

Chinese

Title

Head of Buddha

Period

Northern Qi Dynasty

Year

500-600 CE

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

stone

Dimensions

40.6 x 25.4 x 32.7 cm (16 x 10 x 12 7/8 inches)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Mrs. Gustav Radeke and Mrs. Jesse H. Metcalf

Object Number

15.228

Type

Publications

Exhibition History

Asian Art Galleries
Jun 10, 2014

Label copy

The features of this head, such as the oblong facial contour and almond-shaped eyes help identify it to be of Chinese origin. The material, stone, was also prominently used in China to create Buddhist statuary of all sizes, including monumental sites where statues were carved directly into cliffs.

The cranial extension called the ushnisha, is one of the 32 physical attricutes of the Buddha and is a symbol of his infinite wisdom. The Buddha's hair stylized as snail-shell curls is an iconographical feature found in statues of the Buddha in China from this time and also in later works of Korea, Japan, Thailand, and other regions of Asia.

Chinese Treasures from the Permanent Collection
Mar 03, 1989 – Apr 23, 1989
Rockefeller Asian Art Gallery

Image use

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Public Domain This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Unknown Maker, Chinese
Head of Buddha, 500-600 CE
Gray stone
40.6 x 25.4 x 32.7 cm (16 x 10 x 12 7/8 inches)
Gift of Mrs. Gustav Radeke and Mrs. Jesse H. Metcalf 15.228

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