A centuries-old ivory carving from ancient India, depicting the life of Buddha, has become a centrepiece at the China National Museum’s latest exhibition

Sharing the details on social media, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong described the artefact as “a hidden gem shining at the National Museum of China.”

He wrote on X that, according to historical records, the exquisite carving was originally presented by an Indian Raja to Chinese monk Xuanzang, who brought it to China in the 7th century AD.

Xuanzang, one of China’s most revered scholars and a leading Indophile of his time, travelled extensively across India in search of Buddhist teachings. His writings not only helped spread Buddhist philosophy in East Asia but also shaped China’s perception of India as a sacred and scholarly lan

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