The Complete Collection of Dunhuang Grottoes 12: Paintings of the Eastward Spread of Buddhism

Author: Sun Xiuwen, Chief Editor of the Dunhuang Academy / Chief Editor of this volume
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-06-01
Features: This volume explores the historical images of Buddhism's introduction from India to China through the Buddhist historical story murals in Dunhuang, thereby clarifying how Buddhism took root in China and the process of sinicization of Buddhism. Buddhist historical story paintings were one of the methods for spreading the religion, categorized into various types with different names, such as "" ( stories) and "" (historical records paintings). This volume temporarily uses the more easily understandable term "Buddhist Eastward Transmission Story Paintings," which generally includes legends of miraculous manifestations, the deeds of eminent monks, and stories of historical figures related to Buddhism, as well as auspicious image paintings. It constitutes a major category of Buddhist art content but has rarely been studied by scholars, leaving much room for further research. Among the 492 caves in the southern section of the Mogao Grottoes, 48 contain historical story paintings, nearly one-tenth of the total, with dozens of confirmed themes. Compared to the grand and majestic Buddhist scripture paintings and the life stories of the Buddha, the Buddhist historical story paintings are neither located in the main caves nor occupy the main murals, and their artistic quality may not always be exceptional. However, they encompass important aspects of Buddhism's development in China and hold historical value no less than that of the scripture paintings. Buddhist historical paintings are written from the perspective of Buddhists, recording the process of Buddhism's eastward transmission. Though fragmented, they reveal, through reorganization, the historical exchanges between China, India, and Central Asia, as well as the process of Buddhism's sinicization.