Excavating the oldest Buddha statue ever discovered in China

Scientists in Shaanxi province say they have unearthed the oldest Buddha statue ever discovered in China.

Two statues unearthed from the tomb of a family in Shaanxi province (northwest China) date back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). These statues are about 200 years older than the oldest Buddha image ever discovered in China (dating from the Sixteen Kingdoms Period (304-489).

According to the announcement of this country's scientists, of the two newly excavated statues, a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, 10.5cm high, 4.7cm bottom diameter, made of a mixture of copper, tin and lead.

One of two new statues unearthed in Shaanxi province.

The remaining work is 15.8cm high, 6.4cm bottom diameter, simulating the Five Wisdom Buddhas representing the 5 core qualities of Buddhism.

Through metal analysis, scientists believe that the statues are locally produced, showing that Buddhism has been popular in Shaanxi since the Eastern Han Dynasty.

The statue simulates the Five Wisdom Buddhas.

Li Ming, a researcher with the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archeology, who is leading the excavation project, said the tombs belonged to royal families or high-ranking local officials in the past.

Scientists say the discovery of the statues will play an important role in studying the introduction of Buddhism into China.

Excavation started in June 2020 and is still ongoing. Up to now, Chinese scientists have discovered 16,000 artifacts and excavated 3,648 graves.