A bodhisattva, sculpture collection Rijksmuseum

During the Tang dynasty the route to India attracted many travellers, including Chinese Buddhist monks on pilgrimages to the region where the Buddha had once preached. Near this route were the caves of Mount Tianlong (Tianlongshan), a site where richly decorated cave-temples were carved. Their statues reflect the influence of India, evident in this figure’s rounded
forms and elegant pose, with slightly angled hips and shoulders.