ITEM: Brick with Buddha
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Chinese, Northern Wei
PERIOD: 386 - 534 A.D
DIMENSIONS: 310 mm x 140 mm x 60 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex English private collection, acquired between 1970 - 1990

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

The Northern Wei dynasty (386–534 CE) was a significant ruling dynasty in northern China during the period of the Sixteen Kingdoms and early Northern and Southern Dynasties. Founded by the Tuoba clan, a nomadic people of Xianbei origin, the Northern Wei initially controlled vast parts of northern China and played a crucial role in unifying the region after centuries of fragmentation. One of the dynasty's major achievements was the promotion of cultural and administrative reforms that blended their nomadic traditions with Chinese practices. Under the reign of Emperor Xiaowen (471–499 CE), the dynasty actively promoted sinicization policies, adopting Chinese language, dress, and Confucianism, which helped integrate the Xianbei rulers into Chinese society.

The Northern Wei is especially renowned for its patronage of Buddhism, which became the dominant religion during this time. The dynasty's rulers were fervent supporters of Buddhist art and architecture, commissioning the creation of numerous temples, statues, and cave complexes. Some of the most famous artistic achievements from the Northern Wei period are the Yungang and Longmen Grottoes, which feature intricate carvings of Buddha figures, bodhisattvas, and other religious motifs. These rock-cut cave temples reflect the fusion of Xianbei artistic traditions with Chinese and Indian influences, showcasing the cosmopolitan nature of the Northern Wei court and the spread of Buddhist culture across East Asia.

The Northern Wei dynasty also implemented significant land and administrative reforms, such as the "Equal-Field System" (均田制, Jūntián zhì), which aimed to distribute land more equally among farmers, improving agricultural productivity and strengthening state control over the land and its resources. This system allowed the government to maintain a stable tax base and reduce the influence of powerful landowning elites. However, the growing tensions between the sinicized aristocracy and the more conservative, traditionalist Xianbei nobility eventually led to internal strife. The Northern Wei split into the Eastern and Western Wei dynasties in 534 CE, marking the end of a unified Northern Wei but leaving a lasting legacy on Chinese governance, culture, and religion.