Date: 2^nd year (AD 1163) of Shengming Reign, Dali Kingdom

Dimensions: Height 48.0 cm, Length 21.0 cm, Width 35.0 cm

Material: Gilt bronze

Gift of Mr. Kung Zou Heng

• Object Type：
  • SCULPTURE
• Location：
  • Ancient Chinese Sculpture Gallery
• Tag：
  • mahāvairocana dali kingdom gilt bronze ad 1163

An inscription cast in the interior of this Vairocana statue gives "the 2^nd year (1163) of Shengming Reign, the Dali Kingdom" as the year of making and "Zhang Xingming and others" as the names of worshipers. Bejewelled Buddhist statuary was first created in Buddha-gayā, India, then introduced to Chang’an, China, and finally reached Yunnan via Sichuan Province.

【Special Exhibition】 Treasure of Prosperity: Gifts for the Shanghai Museum