Most gilt bronze Buddhist sculptures are cast in bronze, with only a small number cast in brass and copper. After they are cast into shape, gold plating is applied to the surface; hence they are called gilt Buddhist sculptures. Due to the preciousness of the materials, and the level of complexity in their production, early gilt Buddhist sculptures tended to be small in size, yet delicate in style. Through its introduction in the Three Kingdoms (220-280) and Jin Dynasties (265-420), its growth in the Southern and Northern Dynasties (386-589), its flourishing in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and its exquisite refinements in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties, one can see how Buddhist images have adapted to Chinese characteristics and assimilated into the Chinese image of art.
