Northern Wei Style Of Buddhist Sculpture

Middle Binyang Cave, Longmen

Distinguishing features of the Northern Wei style of Buddhist sculpture include: (1) Buddha's monk's robe covering both shoulders, with thin underrobe and knotted cross-tie, flowing in patterned folds over his throne; (2) generally elongated bodies with squarish heads; (3) Buddha's distinctive "archaic smile" that is a naive upward-facing crescent. Compare: an image of Sakyamuni in Japan's Asuka-dera temple, and a head of a Bodhisattva from Longmen that is currently displayed in the Tokyo National Museum.

Reference for names: Chinese Deities