94 - CHINA - SIX DYNASTIES (229–589), LIU SONG Dynasty, dated 426

CHINA - SIX DYNASTIES (229–589), LIU SONG Dynasty, dated 426 Bronze BUDDHA with a green patina, seated on a tall four-legged pedestal, hands joined in prayer, wearing a monastic robe covering his shoulders and falling in even folds. On the reverse, the inscription reads: “The Buddha’s disciple Zhao Yan made this donation for his parents,” along with the date of the 3rd year of Yuanjia (426). H. 26 cm Provenance: Galerie 41, Monaco, 2010. Buddhism arrived in China in the early centuries of our era, brought by the first monks who traveled to India to translate the sutras. Although the religion remained marginal at first, it began to flourish after the fall of the Han Dynasty (220). The first images of the Buddha appeared in China through trade along the Silk Road in the form of small, portable altars made of bronze, often gilded. The oldest known example is the Brundage Buddha, dated 338 and housed at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. Several influences are still evident in these early depictions. From Gandharan statuary, artisans retained the regular folds of the robe but completely concealed the body beneath the drapery. The use of a tall rectangular pedestal may have been borrowed from Central Asia. The slightly smiling face was also adapted to appeal to the widest possible audience of believers. The Yuanjia reign of the Liu Song dynasty is considered a period of stability and open-mindedness during the Northern and Southern Dynasties era. Expert: Cabinet Portier