Australia hands Ming dynasty Buddha back to China amid ongoing mystery over its arrival

A 500-year-old Buddha statue discovered in Australia has been returned to China, sparking intrigue about its journey to the country. On Tuesday, the 15cm bronze figurine was formally handed over to Chinese officials during a ceremony in Denham, a coastal town in Shark Bay. The statue will travel to China for further examination to determine its history before being exhibited at a museum in Beijing.

Leon Deschamps and Shayne Thomson, the discoverers, found the statue in 2018 while testing metal detectors. They claimed it should be returned to China as an act of goodwill. Simon Wu, president of the Australia China Friendship Society in Western Australia, called the return "extraordinarily generous," praising the gesture of bringing cultures, countries, and people together through a small object.

The Ming Dynasty Buddha is believed to be the oldest Chinese artifact found in Australia. The statue was used in ceremonies celebrating the Buddha's birthday, where worshippers would pour water over its shoulders and recite sutras to foster good deeds and compassionate thoughts. However, the statue's journey to Australia remains a mystery.

Some reports suggest the statue may have accompanied the treasure ships of the famous 15th-century seafarer Zheng He, but there is no proof that he ever reached Australia. A more likely explanation is that the Buddha arrived with Chinese pearlers and fishermen in the 19th century. Shark Bay was once the birthplace of Western Australia's pearling industry, which depended on Malay, Chinese, and Indigenous Australian labor.

According to Western Australian Museum records, an 1886 census indicated that over 200 people worked in the local pearling industry, including 60 Europeans, 102 Chinese, and 68 Malays. At that time, 68 pearling vessels operated in the area, seven of which were owned by the Chinese. However, the industry declined over time, and the authorities imposed restrictions on Chinese immigration.

In 2023, Australia returned valuable cultural relics to China, including items seized by customs and pieces donated by the National Gallery of Australia and a private individual.