Smiling Buddha of the Maijishan Grottoes-3

The group of sculptures in Grotto44 built during the Western Wei Dynasty (535-556) is exemplary ofthe Buddha statues in the Maijishan Grottoes. The main Buddha statue, sittingin the center of the group of sculptures, is 160 centimeters tall with a woman'sfigure, who wears his hair in a chignon with a whirlpool pattern, his hairline executed in acloud shape. An ornamental knot decorates his chest, and a kasaya wraps hisshoulders and cascades down, withthe draping curves of the robe smoothly, clearly and beautifully outlined.Traces of color can be seen on his clothing and hairline. He has long and thineyebrows, a slightly inclined head, smiling mysteriously and kindly. One canonly imagine how beautiful the statue must have been when it made its debut inthis world!