Exploring the 'perfect conjugal bliss' of Luoyang, central China (5)

Round and full: The mysterious oriental smile

Design by: Chizao

Dubbed "the oriental capital of museums," Luoyang boasts 100 museums that house countless cultural relics. While many regard the smile of the Mona Lisa as a symbol of Western beauty, in Luoyang, a smiling clay Buddha statue adorned with chips and cracks epitomizes the enigmatic beauty of the East.

Discovered beneath the ruins of a Northern Wei temple in Luoyang in 1979, the damaged facial fragment of a clay Buddha figure has become one of China's most famous cultural relics. Visitors who lay eyes on the figure are often captivated by its grace and round shape, despite the figure's eyes and forehead being missing. The Chinese character for "round," yuan, conveys unity and happiness. Even though the round face of the Buddha statue is damaged, it is still considered one of the finest sculptures in China's art history, akin to the Venus de Milo, which is celebrated as an ideal of feminine beauty in Western art.

Facial portion of a clay Buddha figure (People’s Daily Online/Chi Zao）

The Buddha figure not only radiates solemnity but also a touch of earthly beauty. Unlike the serene expressions typical of most Buddha statues, this clay figure sports a warm and inviting smile, drawing people closer to the divine.

This figure was crafted during the Northern Wei Dynasty, a period when both the public and royalty deeply revered Buddhism. Many of China's most significant Buddhist heritage sites were built during the Northern Wei Dynasty, such as the Yungang Grottoes, the Longmen Grottoes, and the Shaolin Monastery.