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.