Visit the Capital Museum to admire the oldest Beiwei Taihe sculpture in the capital!

The Beiwei Taihe sculpture is now housed in the Capital Museum, located on the second floor of the general history exhibition hall on the west side of the museum. It is the most complete and oldest stone Buddha statue remaining in Beijing. The grand Buddha statue represents Sakyamuni, with a total height of 2.2 meters and a width of 1.16 meters. The Buddha statue itself is 1.65 meters tall, standing barefoot on a lotus stone base over 1 meter high. The face of the Buddha is dignified and full, with a spiral bun on top of the head, ears that hang down to the shoulders, a bare chest, and a kasaya draped diagonally. The sleeves touch the ground, and the robe's folds are smooth convex lines. The left hand is brought together and slightly bent downward in a 'wish-granting' gesture, while the right hand is bent at the elbow in front of the chest in a 'fearlessness' gesture. The upper body is clothed in a monk's robe, and the lower body in silk pants with a chrysanthemum pattern, with smooth and distinct folds. On both sides of the Buddha's body and in the halo around the head, there are 31 celestial musicians carved, playing drums and flutes, as well as a great Peng bird with golden wings at the very top of the Buddha's head. The flowing garments of the celestial beings are reminiscent of the musicians in Dunhuang. The entire sculpture is balanced and perfect in composition, with smooth and delicate lines, harmonious and vivid colors, and exquisite carving techniques. Behind the Buddha is a 2.2-meter-tall backlight, with 12 rows of small Buddha statues arranged horizontally from top to bottom, varying in number and size, totaling 124. The small Buddhas are generally 12 centimeters high, with the smallest one being 4 centimeters. On both sides stand relief statues of the disciples Ananda and Kashyapa. Today, the amethyst originally embedded in the Buddha's forehead has been stolen, but the carved flame patterns and honeysuckle decorations still remain, adding to the statue's solemn and splendid appearance. This Beiwei Taihe sculpture, originally located in Che'erying Village, Sujia Tun area, Haidian District, Beijing, is the most complete and oldest Buddha statue carved from a single piece of granite in Beijing. According to records, it was built in the 23rd year of Taihe of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty (499), and it has a history of over 1,500 years. Unfortunately, on the night of March 25, 1998, a group of professional treasure thieves stole this rare treasure. During the theft, the sculpture was broken into five pieces, resulting in some damage to the edges and corners. Six months later, the public security department finally caught the criminals in Yangping Town, Quyang, Hebei, and recovered the Buddha statue. After restoration by experts from the Beijing cultural relics department, for the safety of the Buddha, it was decided not to return it to the stone pagoda in Che'erying Village but to place it on public display in the Capital Museum. Thus, the Beiwei Taihe sculpture became the 'treasure of the museum'.