ARTS / CULTURE & LEISURE
Bronze Buddha statues unearthed in NW China’s Shaanxi Province
Two bronze Buddha statues and a number of items were excavated from a group of ancient tombs dating to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, the Shaanxi Academy of Archaeology said Friday.
The tombs were located in Chengren village, Xianyang. Six tombs were excavated in May.
Two bronze Buddha statues were found in a tomb chamber, one a statue of Shakyamuni measuring 10.5 centimeters in height, and the other a five-Buddha statue standing 15.8 centimeters tall.
The two Buddha statues are a bronze alloy made from copper, tin and lead according to archaeological analysis, said Li Ming, a researcher with the Shaanxi Academy of Archaeology.
More items including pottery and other bronzeware were unearthed as well.
"The owner of the graveyard was possibly a county official or landlord, who had certain family influence and economic might," Li said.
"The findings of the Buddha statues are of great significance to the study of the introduction of Buddhism to China," Li added.
The tombs were located in Chengren village, Xianyang. Six tombs were excavated in May.
Two bronze Buddha statues were found in a tomb chamber, one a statue of Shakyamuni measuring 10.5 centimeters in height, and the other a five-Buddha statue standing 15.8 centimeters tall.
The two Buddha statues are a bronze alloy made from copper, tin and lead according to archaeological analysis, said Li Ming, a researcher with the Shaanxi Academy of Archaeology.
More items including pottery and other bronzeware were unearthed as well.
"The owner of the graveyard was possibly a county official or landlord, who had certain family influence and economic might," Li said.
"The findings of the Buddha statues are of great significance to the study of the introduction of Buddhism to China," Li added.
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