Buddha Maitreya (Mile)
弥勒佛立像
The earliest precisely-dated monumental Chinese Buddhist bronze known to survive anywhere. An inscription on the base tells us it was cast in 486 CE by a nun named Fayi and 66 of her fellow devotees.
Object Facts
- Period
- Northern Wei dynasty (386–534)
- Date
- dated 486 (10th year of the Taihe reign)
- Medium
- Gilt bronze with traces of pigment; piece-mould cast
- Dimensions
- H. 140.3 cm; W. 62.2 cm; D. 48.9 cm
- Held by
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York, USA - Accession
- 26.123
John Stewart Kennedy Fund, 1926
Why it matters
Proves that by the late 5th century Chinese foundries could cast Buddhas at life-size scale — a technical feat that reframes our understanding of early Buddhist patronage in North China.
How it travelled
Almost certainly looted from a Shanxi province temple during the late Qing / early Republican upheavals. Acquired by the Met via the Kennedy Fund in 1926, the peak year of Western collecting of Chinese sculpture.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see Buddha Maitreya (Mile)?+
Buddha Maitreya (Mile) is held by the The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, USA. Accession number 26.123. Online catalogue record: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/42733.
When was Buddha Maitreya (Mile) created?+
Buddha Maitreya (Mile) dates to dated 486 (10th year of the Taihe reign), during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534).
What is Buddha Maitreya (Mile) made of?+
Buddha Maitreya (Mile) is a gilt-bronze figure executed in gilt bronze with traces of pigment; piece-mould cast, measuring H. 140.3 cm; W. 62.2 cm; D. 48.9 cm.
How did Buddha Maitreya (Mile) end up at the The Met?+
Almost certainly looted from a Shanxi province temple during the late Qing / early Republican upheavals. Acquired by the Met via the Kennedy Fund in 1926, the peak year of Western collecting of Chinese sculpture.
Can I reuse the photograph of Buddha Maitreya (Mile)?+
Yes. The The Met has released the image under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), so it is free for any use, commercial or non-commercial, with no attribution required (though attribution is appreciated).
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