Shakyamuni Buddha

Northern Zhou dynasty, 557-581 AD
Shanxi Museum

Although both of these statues were created during the Northern Zhou dynasty, they are markedly different in their overall appearance, carving, physiognomy, robes, and hair. The figure on the left wears a monk's robe, while the figure on the right wears Chinese court costume and a different hair treatment (the Buddha's hair is canonically shown with individual small curls, as on the figure at left).

Northern China was a crossroads at this time, and different artistic traditions are evidently at work in these two statues, which were found in adjoining counties.