◎The Buddha Image of the World
　　The development of the Buddha image follows the spread of Buddhism throughout the world. Artists of different places and times have created images that are not only dignified and graceful, but also serene in their beauty in accordance with the different cultural backgrounds and local customs. Following are eleven images of the Buddha from around the world, selected from the “Illustrated World Buddhist Arts, Selected Edition” to demonstrate the many faces of the Buddha image.

→Seated Buddha, India The Buddha image has a coiled topknot atop its head, full lips, broad shoulders, thick chest, and clad in a thin garment, which are characteristics of the Mathura images of the Kushan period.

→The Buddha's First Turning of the Dharma Wheel, India The figure is clad in a completely smooth garment that covers both shoulders to express the smoothness of the skin, which emits a sense of nobility in its beauty. This is a famous carving of the Gupta period.

→Standing Buddha, Nepal The figure's head is covered by tight, distinct curls, resembling conches and its body, in the “thrice bent” pose, is clad in a thin robe, which resemble the style of the Mathura images of the Gupta period.

→The Twin Miracles of the Buddha, Afghanistan The so-called twin miracles of the Buddha are the shooting flames and water from the Buddha's body as a display of the Buddha's supernormal power in bringing into submission those who have followed the wrong path. As depicted in the carving, the flame shoots forth from the Buddha's shoulders.

→The Colossal Buddha of Aukana, Sri Lanka Atop the figure's head is a flaming aureole; the folds of the robe are spaced tightly in close intervals with strictly geometric ridges, which are characteristics of Sri Lankan images.

→The Naga-King Mucalinda Sheltering the Buddha, Burma The figure is depicted with a short neck, hair that is not in curl, and a plain protuberance on top of the head, which are characteristics of images from the late Pagan period.

→Phra Achana, Thailand The figure's protuberance is adorned by a flame-like ornament. Its face is oval in shape and its eyebrows form a sweeping, clearly defined curve from the bridge of its nose, which are characteristics of Thai images.

→Seated Buddha, Indonesia The figure's head is covered by tight, distinct curls resembling conches with a high protuberance; its eyes are cast downward. Clearly, this image is influenced by the style of the images from the Indian Gupta period.

→Seated Sakyamuni Buddha, Grotto No. 20, Yungang Grottoes, China The figure has a full and round face, a high nose, long eyebrows, and a high protuberance on the top of the head. An outer garment drapes over the left shoulder, exposing the right shoulder, and the body is voluminous and majestic in appearance, which are the styles of the Gandharan images.

→Asuka Daibutsu, Japan The face and the body of the Buddha image are elongated and flat; the folds of the garment are complicated and symmetrical, which show a great stylistic influence from the Northern Wei dynasty in China.

→Seated Sakyamuni Buddha, Seokguram Grotto, Korea The body of the Buddha image is round and robust, with a cranial protuberance covered by tight, distinct curls, resembling conches. With the right shoulder exposed, the figure wears a faint smile, which exudes a quiet sense of serenity. It shows the stylistic elements of the images made during the height of the Tang Dynasty in China.