Yarhu: Heavenly Being

CHINA, Xinjiang

The bust was unearthed from the Buddhist site of Yarhu and depicts a heavenly being. The figure has retained its color, evidently seen in the bluish-green skin and red hair and stole. The head was reconnected to the body due to damage. Both arms of the figure are raised and the stole was probably coiled around them to float in an arc behind the head. There is also evidence that the body was decorated with jewelry. Sharply defined eyebrows frame the almond-shaped eyes and arc down to the line of the beaked nose. The ears appear to have been applied on top of the hair after it was sculpted, which is often seen in statues from Central Asia. Some experts believe the statue was most likely an interpretation of a demonic figure due to the color of the skin and hair, however, the face is quite demure due to the lack of fangs and pointed ears.