Lianxi Temple: Pendant with Standing Buddha

CHINA, Hubei, Wuhan; Eastern Wu Kingdom (222–280)

This pendant was excavated from Lianxi Temple and an inscription accompanying it reveals that it was made during the Eastern Wu Kingdom (222–280).
The pendant is made of gilt bronze in the shape of a lotus petal. There is a line engraving of a standing Buddha on a lotus pedestal in the center. The Budda has a round face and high usnisa together with a round nimbus. The Buddha’s upper body is bare, and is adorned with a necklace and a stole. The left hand is depicted in front of the chest, while the right hand faces outward. On each side of the lotus pedestal are lotus buds.
The pendant reveals traditional metalworking and gilding techniques and is regarded as an early example of a metal Buddha image in China.