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2026.05.17 15:14 GMT+8

A smile from ancient China still lives on after 1,500 years

Updated 2026.05.17 15:14 GMT+8
CGTN

A smile is a universal language, and this one comes from ancient China around 1,500 years ago.

A partially preserved face of a clay Buddha statue from the Northern Wei Dynasty is among the most treasured artifacts at the Luoyang Museum in Henan Province. Although only half of the face survives, the Buddha's serene expression remains unmistakable, with the gently upturned corners of the lips still conveying a quiet smile.

A partially preserved face of a clay Buddha statue from the Northern Wei Dynasty is on display at the Luoyang Museum in Henan Province. /CGTN

A partially preserved face of a clay Buddha statue from the Northern Wei Dynasty is on display at the Luoyang Museum in Henan Province. /CGTN

A partially preserved face of a clay Buddha statue from the Northern Wei Dynasty is on display at the Luoyang Museum in Henan Province. /CGTN

Excavated from the pagoda foundation site of the Yongning Temple in Luoyang, the piece has been reconstructed from two surviving fragments and stands 24.5 centimeters tall. The lips feature clear, full contours that are believed to have been shaped using a single-stroke sculpting technique.

A partially preserved face of a clay Buddha statue from the Northern Wei Dynasty is on display at the Luoyang Museum in Henan Province. /CGTN

A partially preserved face of a clay Buddha statue from the Northern Wei Dynasty is on display at the Luoyang Museum in Henan Province. /CGTN

A partially preserved face of a clay Buddha statue from the Northern Wei Dynasty is on display at the Luoyang Museum in Henan Province. /CGTN

Archaeologists estimate that if the Buddha figure was originally standing, the full face would have measured approximately 40 to 50 centimeters long, while the entire statue could have reached a height of about three meters, suggesting that it may have been the largest Buddha image at the Yongning Temple.

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