A file photo shows the half-face statue housed in Luoyang Museum, central China’s Henan Province. /CFP
A file photo shows the half-face statue housed in Luoyang Museum, central China’s Henan Province. /CFP
The “imperfect treasures” of China are steeped in elegance – cultural relics that, despite their imperfections, hold great historical value. Among them is a half-face statue – currently housed in the Luoyang Museum – unearthed in 1979 from the foundation of Luoyang’s Yongning Temple Pagoda, which dates back to the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534).
The statue’s mouth curls into a faint, mysterious smile, with a straight and prominent nose and slightly plump cheeks. Even though only half of the face remains, the serene, compassionate expression and the noble, dignified aura are still vividly displayed.