Chinese Buddhist sculpture
Chinese Buddhist sculpture has been produced throughout the history of
The practice started in rock-cut cave temples where carvings, mostly in relief, of images enveloped chambers and complexes illustrating the beliefs associated to the Buddha's teachings. Creating these temples and sculptures not only garnered merit aligned to their own personal growth, but gave devotees a reference for worship and meditative inspiration.[3] Major rock-cut sites, with large groups of excavated caves, include the Yungang Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes, Maijishan Grottoes, and Mogao Caves.
Sculptures in the round, first began in India and eventually came to production in China during the 4th century CE. While inspired by Indian renderings, various sittings positions, facial expressions and clothing types culminated a visual mix. Sculptures with slim bodies and thicker garments embodied Chinese traditions as opposed to Indian variations depicting larger physiques & sheer clothing.
Initially, only the Buddha was the main person or figure depicted. Bodhisattvas were later created as standalone works instead of as an attendant to the Buddha.
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Buddha (fragment from a larger stele)
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Head of a Buddha
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Bodhisattva, probably Avalokiteshvara (Guānyīn)
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Bodhisattva Maitreya (Mílè Púsa)
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Arhat, one of the Yixian glazed pottery luohans
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Buddha Vairocana (Dàrè Rúlái)
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Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara of the Lion's Roar, or SimhanadaAvalokiteshvara(ShīHoǔ Guānyīn)
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Buddha
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Buddhist monk Bodhidharma (Pútídámó)
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Bodhisattva with Crossed Ankles
See also
- Yixian glazed pottery luohans
- Guishan Guanyin Colossal modern sculpture
- Greco-Buddhist art
- Iconography of Gautama Buddha in Laos and Thailand
- Korean Buddhist sculpture
- Lao Buddhist sculpture
- Thai Buddhist sculpture
References
- ^ a b Leidy, Denise. "Chinese Buddhist Sculpture | Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art". The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
- ^ a b "Wisdom Embodied: Chinese Buddhist and Daoist Sculpture in The Metropolitan Museum of Art | MetPublications | The Metropolitan Museum of Art". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
- ^ "Chinese Buddhist Cave Temple Sculpture". Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
- ^ Dehejia, Vidya. "Buddhism and Buddhist Art | Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art". The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Retrieved 2017-11-19.