5—6 世紀 彩繪塗金木雕佛像|Buddha with radiate halo and mandorla

Unknown

5th–6th century · Juniper wood with traces of color and gold · Asian Art

This portable shrine from the northern branch of the Central Asian Silk Road was probably the centerpiece of a three-part traveling shrine—a small triptych with doors. Two donors on the base venerate what appears to be a pot overflowing with vegetation. Such shrines for personal devotion traveled with merchants and pilgrims. While the Buddha, especially his hairstyle, can be related to Chinese imagery, the overall presentation of the figure and the combined halo and mandorla show connections to the Afghan and Gandharan visual tradition (see 48.66a, b).

Artist

Unknown

Date

5th–6th century

Medium

Juniper wood with traces of color and gold

Culture

China (Xinjiang Autonomous Region, Turfan area)

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Fletcher Fund, 1929