Unraveling the History Behind the Buddha Masterpiece Dated 338

01 buddha dated 338 gilt bronze asian art museum san francisco ca usa

The Buddha statue dated to 338 AD represents a remarkable convergence of early Buddhist and Chinese art, holding immense historical importance. This piece beautifully demonstrates the initial fusion of Indian Buddhist beliefs and Chinese artistic practices, embodying both spiritual depth and cultural interplay.

chinese buddha statue: Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Museum’s website.

Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Explore more on the museum’s site.

The Introduction of Buddhism

Buddhism made its entrance into China from India around the early 1st century BCE. Yet, it didn’t truly flourish until about 220 AD, coinciding with the disintegration of the Han Dynasty. This religious philosophy offered hope and paths to enlightenment amidst a time of chaos and discord, which helped it gain traction during such challenging times.

chinese buddha statue: Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Museum’s website.

Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Check out their website for more information.

Chronology of Artifacts

As a spiritual and philosophical tradition, Buddhism attracted devotees from various social and economic backgrounds. Statues of Buddha and bodhisattvas soon became common in households ranging from rural communities to urban dwellings.

Throughout nearly two millennia, Chinese artists have produced numerous works depicting the Buddha. However, establishing a timeline for Chinese Buddhist art can sometimes be challenging due to a scarcity of dated pieces. Nonetheless, a few significant creations are dated, providing a framework for understanding this art form’s history, with Buddha dated 338 being a pivotal example of profound significance.

chinese buddha statue: Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Museum’s website.

Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. More details on the museum’s site.

Buddhism and Chinese Influence

This sculpture, crafted in 338 CE in Hebei Province during the Later Zhao dynasty (319–351), stands as the earliest known dated Chinese Buddha statue. Thus, it marks the official beginning of a long-standing tradition of Buddhist sculpture in China.

chinese buddha statue: Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Detail. Museum’s website.

Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Detail. Visit the museum’s website for more details.

Design and Form

The Buddha statue dated 338 depicts Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, seated in a traditional pose. Standing at 16 inches (40 cm) tall, the figure is made of leaded bronze, which is plated with a delicate layer of gold. An ancient Chinese Buddhist text mentioned that the Buddha shines with a golden light, making gilt bronze an ideal choice for crafting this piece. The mercury gilding ensures a luminous quality while the bronze avoids the heavy costs associated with solid gold.

chinese buddha statue: Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Detail. Museum’s website.

Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Detail. Visit the museum’s website for more details.

Unique Features

A prominent characteristic of the Buddha is the ushnisha, a distinctive growth atop his head. Many Chinese Buddhist texts refer to this as the Buddha’s “crown,” symbolizing his ascent to Enlightenment as the King of Dharma. Earlier Indian depictions showed the ushnisha as a fleshy protrusion. However, later Chinese artwork, including this statue, adapted it to resemble a hair topknot, appealing more to the aesthetics appreciated by Chinese observers.

chinese buddha statue: Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Detail. Museum’s website.

Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Detail. Explore more on the museum’s site.

Facial Characteristics

The representation of the Buddha evolved as it spread through various cultures, adapting to local aesthetic tastes. The face of this statue aligns well with Chinese ideals: round, with large, almond-shaped eyes, strong eyebrows, and a prominent nose. Unlike Indian models, which often featured a mustache, the Chinese preference leaned towards a clean-shaven and serene smile, giving this Buddha a distinctly charming appearance.

chinese buddha statue: Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Detail. Museum’s website.

Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Detail. Visit the museum’s website for more details.

Robes Inspired by Gandhara

The Buddha’s robe flows gracefully from his shoulders in rhythmic folds. This carefully arranged pattern showcases balance and fluidity. Instead of realistically representing the fabric, it conveys a more ethereal and supernatural essence. This fabric style bears influences from Gandhara, an ancient Indo-Aryan civilization in northwestern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan. As a significant conduit for early Buddhism to enter China, Gandhara also imparted distinct aesthetic principles.

chinese buddha statue: Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Detail. Museum’s website.

Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Detail. More information available on the museum’s site.

Hand Positioning

The arrangement of the Buddha’s hands has significant implications for Buddhist art’s interpretation. In this piece, the Buddha’s hands rest on his stomach. Some scholars argue this reflects a misunderstanding of the dhyana mudra (the meditation gesture), which traditionally shows the palms open and touching. This discrepancy may suggest that the artist had limited knowledge of Buddhist iconography, as Buddhism was still in its infancy in China.

chinese buddha statue: Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Detail. Museum’s website.

Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Detail. More about this on the museum’s site.

On the other hand, some experts argue that this positioning of the Buddha’s hands is intentional. By overlapping across his stomach and facing inwards, it symbolizes a formal Chinese gesture of reverence. Thus, this sculptural representation adeptly melds Chinese cultural elements with its representational form.

Base Design

The Buddha is seated on a rectangular pedestal that, while seemingly plain, has three sizable openings in the front panel. What purpose do these serve?

The openings once housed decorative elements. Scholars posit that lion motifs were possibly affixed to the side holes, while a lotus symbol filled the central hole. Lions epitomized regality and strength, signifying the Buddha’s doctrines, often referred to as the “Lion’s Roar.” Meanwhile, the lotus represents Enlightenment and stands as one of Buddhism’s most powerful symbols.

chinese buddha statue: Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Detail. Museum’s website.

Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Detail. Visit the museum’s website to learn more.

Restoration History

Despite being over 1,600 years old, the statue has lost many original features over time. One notable aspect is a deep shaft atop the ushnisha that once held a canopy—an emblem of royalty and auspiciousness.

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A square protrusion on the back of the Buddha’s head was intended to support a halo symbolizing Enlightenment. Moreover, this square base would have been affixed to table-like legs to create an altar. Therefore, while the statue itself is striking, its original configuration would have been even grander.

chinese buddha statue: Display reconstruction of the Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. YouTube.

Display reconstruction of the Buddha dated 338, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA. Watch on YouTube.

Nevertheless, the contemporary form aligns more with modern minimalist aesthetics. It’s possible that the original design of the Buddha statue may have appeared overly intricate and ornate for today’s tastes.

References

1.

“Buddha Dated 338”, Asian Art Museum Online Collection. Accessed November 27, 2025.

2.

“Buddha Dated 338”, Asian Art Museum YouTube channel, August 2020.

3.

Helen Gardner, Fred S. Kleiner, and Christin J. Mamiya: Gardner’s Art Through the Ages, 12th ed., Thomson Wadsworth, Belmont, CA, USA, 2005.

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