Limestone Maitreya

Northern Wei Dynasty, early 6th century 
Longmen cave temples, Henan province 

It is likely that this seated figure, finely carved in limestone, represents Maitreya, the bodhisattva of the future, who waits in the Tusita heaven for his final rebirth on earth. He is seated in the ‘pensive’ pose, with one hand raised to rest on his cheek. The elegantly attenuated figure wears a tall crown, a shawl around his shoulders and a dhoti around his waist, which falls in crisply carved pleats and folds.