Date: Song (AD 960-1279)
Dimensions: Height 169 cm
Material: White marble

• Object Type：
  • SCULPTURE
• Location：
  • Ancient Chinese Sculpture Gallery
• Tag：
  • kāśyapa song white marble

Kāśyapa and Ananda, often placed on each side of the Buddha, are the two most renowned among the ‘ten principal disciples’ of Shakyamuni Buddha. Kāśyapa is looking to the left, with a calm and steady expression, standing barefoot on the lotus seat with his hands folded in front, like an ascetic monk full of the rigors of life. Ananda is standing bareheaded, with beads in one hand and the other overlapping on the wrist, like a witty child. With Ananda looking to the right side, facing Kāśyapa, the two disciples seem to be engaged in a friendly conversation. Their expressions are natural and lively, which is a manifestation of the joy of life. As a classic work of Northern Song statuary, this pair of almost life-sized statues of Ananda and Kāśyapa is of extreme rarity.