As early as in the Sixteen-Kingdoms Period(304-439 AD), bronze Buddhist statues have been introduced into the Chang’an region. The bronze Buddhist statues of the Northern Dynasties Period can be classified into the freestanding statues, back screen-style statues and panel-shaped statues, and the back screen-style ones took the bulk. The casting techniques of these statues included mold casting and lostwax casting: at latest in 530 AD, which was at the end of the Northern Wei Dynasty, Buddhist statues made by mature lost-wax casting technique have appeared in Chang’an region. However, some "bronze Buddhist statues of the Northern Dynasties" unearthed or collected in museums were replicas or fakes made in the early 20 th century, which must be identified.
