Arniko

Arniko, also known as Anige in some sources, was a Nepalese Buddhist artist and sculptor from the Kathmandu Valley who flourished in the late 13th century. He is traditionally described as being invited by Kublai Khan to the Yuan court in China to work as a master craftsman and designer for imperial Buddhist monuments.

In China, Arniko reportedly led a team of Nepali artisans and held a prominent position at the Yuan court. His most famous achievement is the White Dagoba (White Pagoda) at the Miaoying Temple in Beijing, which is traditionally dated to the late 1270s and attributed to his leadership and planning. Through this and related works, Arniko is credited with introducing Nepalese stylistic elements to Chinese Buddhist art, including wood and stone sculpture, and with helping train Chinese craftsmen in Nepalese techniques.

Biographical details about Arniko are sparse and often uncertain. Exact dates of birth and death are not firmly established, and much of the record comes from a combination of Yuan-era chronicles and Nepalese tradition. Despite the uncertainties, Arniko is regarded as a key figure in early Sino-Nepalese cultural exchange, illustrating how artistic ideas traveled along Buddhist networks and royal patronage between Nepal and China.

Names and spellings vary across sources, with Arniko, Anige, and Araniko used in different languages and traditions. His legacy endures in discussions of Nepalese art and its historical influence beyond the borders of Nepal.