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. More information on the page Spiritual Director's page.
