六世纪早期在北魏宫廷中发展出一种造像风格，其特点是人物身形瘦削，衣袍厚重满遮，这件稀有的独立式佛造像即很好地表现了这一风格。弥勒佛在中国早期佛教中扮演了重要角色，人们认为这位菩萨（已觉悟的救世者）将在下个宇宙纪元成为佛教被毁灭又复兴后继续传法的未来佛。造像上刻有弥勒佛的名字，同时也指明委托造像的人是为夭折的儿子制作此像，希望儿子和其他亲人最终能在佛前重聚。

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