Yungang Grotto 18: Head of an Attendant Bodhisattva

CHINA, Shanxi, Datong; Northern Wei dynasty

There were originally two attendant Bodhisattva figures on the back (north) wall of the grotto, one on each side of the main Buddha statue; however, these sculptures have suffered severe weathering, thus only the head of the Bodhisattva on the right is still preserved.
The Bodhisattva has a full, rounded face with smooth cheeks, slender eyes, and thin eyebrows. The slight smile on the lips gives the figure a gentle, kind expression. On the head is a tall headdress featuring a Buddha image in the center and two discs containing patterns of lotus petals and beads on the sides. A fringe of hair is carved below the headdress in fine detail. The Bodhisattva wears dangling, fringed earrings on the elongated earlobes. This carving displays a high level of skill, with exquisite detailing and a variety of contrasting textures.