We have good information about what the Buddha looked like in the Pali texts, and with modern AI (Midjourney AI) and a computer, we have generated this image of the Buddha – what he might have looked like in his 30s. We know this:
- Blue eyes and Indo-European race – Buddha was born in northern India, for approx. 2,500 years ago, into a group of people called the Sakyans – who were described as an Indo-Aryan race, known to have Caucasian bodily features, such as blue eyes and lighter skin.
- Light golden skinn – the Indo-Aryan race had golden brown skinn. The Buddha belonged to the elite of that society, and probably had a lighter golden brown colour.
- Dark hair with a topknot – before the Buddha began his training towards awakening, he had dark wavy/curly hair and a topknot.
- Tall – he was born into a noble family, and the literature describes these families as taller than average.
- White teeth and smile – he had white teeth, a deep and resonant voice – and he always had a beautiful smile.
Interested in how the Buddha developed? Here’s a podcast episode:
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About the Author: Nitho Bhikkhu
Nitho is the Spiritual Director of DNBF and lives full-time the Buddhist training as a bhikkhu. He inspires people towards inner peace, clarity, wisdom and awakening in Norway and the Nordic countries, and he is often to be found in nature and the mountains.
