封面是美国旧金山亚洲艺术馆所藏的一件青铜鎏金佛造像,是现存最早的有明确纪年可考的中国佛教造像,为十六国后赵太祖石虎建武四年(338年)造像(图1)。此像高39.7厘米,佛陀宽额,大眼细长,高肉髻,束发状的佛发,发纹刻画精细。佛双手作禅定印,五指纤长,身着圆领通肩大衣,胸前衣纹呈“U”字形垂下,结跏趺坐在方座上。方座残存三处圆孔,原应有浮雕雕刻。台座后刻有铭文:“建武四年,岁在戊戌,八月卅日,比丘 Cover is the United States San Francisco Museum of Asian Art collection of bronze statue of the Golden Buddha, is the earliest existing clear creations of Chinese Buddhism statues, for the sixteen countries Zhao Shizhu Jianwu four years (338 years) statues ( figure 1). This image is 39.7 cm high, Buddha wide, slender eyes, tall bun, hair-like buddha hair, fine hair engraved pattern. Buddha meditation with both hands and India, five finger slender, dressed in a round neck through the shoulder coat, chest dress was ”U “ shape hanging down, knot sitting on the seat. Block seat remaining three holes, the original should be relief carving. Pedestal engraved with inscriptions: ”Jianwu four years, year-old in Wu Xu, August 8th, Bhikkhu