Young Monk - Sui Dynasty, bronze statue on pedestal.
The pre-Tang era presents the novelty of attempts of realistic portraits. In Buddhist monasteries it appears the custom of replacing the tablets of the deceased with terracotta or bronze statuettes, depicting, in real life, bonzes distinguished by holiness or doctrine.
P. Toscano writes: 'The face certainly reproduces his features. His hands are in the pose of prayer as if he wants, even after death, to be present with his companions at the temple ceremonies. Such is in fact the intention of the founders of these statuettes which were kept in the temple where the deceased monks had officiated during their lives'.
In the Museum in 1929. From Henan.
