Hello everybody. Yesterday I visited the National Museum of Korea. There is a map there, showing various statues of the Buddha from different countries and different epochs. What I noticed was the fact that many Indian statues depicted the Buddha as having mustache. Does anybody know why? Is there any special meaning in that? I am just being curious.
Thank you!!
"Greco-Buddhist artistic elements can be traced in Chinese Buddhist art, with several local and temporal variations depending on the character of the various dynasties that adopted the Buddhist faith. Some of the earliest known Buddhist artifacts found in China are small statues on âmoney treesâ, dated circa AD 200, in typical Gandharan style: "That the imported images accompanying the newly arrived doctrine came from Gandhara is strongly suggested by such early Gandhara characteristics on this âmoney treeâ Buddha as the high ushnisha, vertical arrangement of the hair, moustache, symmetrically looped robe and parallel incisions for the folds of the arms."[25]
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It is/was common for stone masons to use or reuse partially carved blocks to satisfy commissioned works. Speeds up the completion dramatically.
So a statue initially meant for something else could retain inappropriate feature. It could also be that the best-available model, or the only known models of Indian men had facial hair. Ignorance can make for weird art.
Painters reuse canvasses, and also sometimes âcheatâ in similar ways.
I believe it is an inaccracy, as i believe hair in a bun is an inaccuracy. And the head knob also, despite explaination offered for that as extra brain.
Kinda sets Buddha appart, in a way that i believe is harmful to practiceâŚ
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What is also interesting is the fact that apart from India, such depiction is not common at all. Also, those Indian statues definitely have the Buddha meditating, with the appropriate facial expression. In any way an interesting phenomenon. Also, those oldest Indian statues never depict the Buddha as having curly hair with the bun on top, they, rather have just long hair down to shoulders. Also interesting. In general, I donât have much knowledge on sculpturing, but the overall style of those early Indian statues reminds me of ancient Greek style, for some reason.
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Which period is this photo of the Bodisattva from?
With metta
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Sadly, that information is gone with the wind?
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Agree.
I like to see a picture of Buddha with shaven head.
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Haha 
he definitely remains abreast of the times. Which proves that the Buddhisms fits any person ever.
Oh no, hipster Buddha! 
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They are probably statues of Bodhisatta.
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I agree. Before I knew the intricacies and importance of the various postures and statues, identification of the statues was an issue I faced. Once I mistook this Ajanta painting of a Bodhisatta for that of Prince Siddhattha Gotama 
Cleared it out much later when I asked my Dad.
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Some of them are statues of the Buddha, not Boddhisatta only. But it is still very interesting. How differently the Buddhaâs face looks with a moustache.
Because of Greek influence, the Buddha statue is depicted as we know today. It is said that before Greek invasion to India in 2nd BC, the Buddha is never depicted as human form, only a Dhamma wheel or stupa in the viharas to symbolise the Buddha or Dhamma. Furthermore, the Greco Buddha statue is modeled after King Demetrius I of Bactria.
There are many passage in the early suttas that the Buddha is like a normal shaved monk. DN 2 said King Ajatasattu cannot recognise the Buddha among many monks in a midst of Sangha. MN 26 related how on his departure for quest of enlightenment, Bodhisattva shaved his hair and beard. MN 100 reported an incident a brahmana called the Buddha as bald-headed ascetic. Furthermore, it is said in DN 14 previous Buddha Vipassi also shaved his hair and beard when going forth; in MN 81 previous Buddha Kassapa is also called as bald-headed ascetic.
It is on the late texts such as DN 30 the Buddha is said to have 32 characteristics and in the Nidanakatha, introductory of Jataka, the Bodhisatta is said have a remaining hair (as long as 2 anguli) which never get longer again and curl up. And these based the artists create the Buddha statue like we know today.
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or the Empty Seat/chair , or is that also later? or the footstep? i do not know but would be delighted to be educated and maybe one might create a thread?
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I believe the prevailing theory these days is that Buddha image appeared more-or-less at the same time in both Gandhara under Greek influence, and in Mathura, where the style was recognizably Indic, modelled after the great yakkha figures of the region. Itâs clearly not implausible to hypothesize that the Greeks were behind the influence, given that they were long used to sculpting their gods, but I am not sure that there is any direct evidence for it. In any case, we can say that from the earliest times both Greek and Indic influences were evident.
Indeed, yes, and the Bodhi tree as well.
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Thank you for your correction, bhante 
You should try this moustache Ajahn it would increase your profile
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This may be when the Buddha visited Brahma and did his dissapearing trick 
Actually, it has profound significance for me, and other meaning.