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Secondary sourceSculpture477 CE

Seated Sakyamuni Buddha (Taihe Shakyamuni)

477 CE

A gilt bronze statue of the Buddha dated to 477 CE, an important early example of Chinese Buddhist sculpture from the Northern Wei dynasty.

This dated statue shows how images of the Buddha were adapted into Chinese artistic styles centuries after his life.

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Gilt bronze seated Buddha figure with a flame-patterned mandorla behind him, with small seated Buddhas in niches, on a pedestal flanked by two small lion figures and a stand with carved panels. Photographed against a dark gray background with a National Palace Museum watermark.
Seated Sakyamuni Buddha (Taihe Shakyamuni), gilt bronze, 477, Northern Wei dynasty. National Palace Museum, Taiwan.

About this source

What it is

This gilded bronze sculpture of the Buddha, known as the Taihe Shakyamuni, was created in 477 CE during the Northern Wei dynasty, under Emperor Xiaowen. It is now held at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan. The Buddha sits in the lotus position, with an inscription on the side giving the exact date of the commemoration.

Why it matters

The statue shows the early spread and adaptation of Buddhist art in China. Its dated inscription allows historians to compare it precisely with other Buddhist sculptures of the period, tracing how Indian and Gandharan styles were reshaped into Chinese forms, including changes in the Buddha's robes. The back of the halo depicts scenes from the Buddha's life, including his birth and his mother Queen Maya.

Look closer

  • What details on the statue, like the robe or the throne, show Chinese artistic influence?
  • Why would a dated inscription be so valuable to historians studying art styles?
  • What story from the Buddha's life is shown on the back of the halo, and why might the artist have included it?

This sculpture is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Buddha on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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