Buddhism Mini Encyclopedia (Art)

Author: Ding Mingti
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The most brilliant period of ancient Chinese Buddhist art belongs to the Sui and Tang dynasties. With the unification of the country under the Sui dynasty and the economic and athletic development during the Tang dynasty, Chinese Buddhism reached its zenith, giving rise to many new Buddhist sects. The evolution of these sects was fully reflected in Buddhist art. The most representative Dunhuang cave art of the Sui and Tang periods entered a new stage, achieving a perfect fusion of Indian Buddhist art and Chinese culture, marking the heyday of Dunhuang art. The sculptures, murals, and other Buddhist artworks in the Dunhuang caves, as well as the artifacts preserved in the Dunhuang Manuscript Caves, initiated the study of Dunhuangology, which gradually gained worldwide popularity. Over more than a thousand years, Chinese Buddhist art created numerous cultural and artistic treasures, not only vividly reflecting the development and changes of Buddhism in each era but also providing concrete and authentic visual materials for studying the social customs of past dynasties in architecture, sculpture, painting, literature, music, as well as people's daily lives and productive activities. This book introduces the main forms of Buddhist art, hoping that readers can not only appreciate the unique artistic charm and aesthetic value of Buddhism but also understand its distinctive inner spirit. The most brilliant period of ancient Chinese Buddhist art belongs to the Sui and Tang dynasties. With the unification of the country under the Sui dynasty and the economic and athletic development during the Tang dynasty, Chinese Buddhism reached its zenith, giving rise to many new Buddhist sects. The evolution of these sects was fully reflected in Buddhist art. The most representative Dunhuang cave art of the Sui and Tang periods entered a new stage, achieving a perfect fusion of Indian Buddhist art and Chinese culture, marking the heyday of Dunhuang art. The sculptures, murals, and other Buddhist artworks in the Dunhuang caves, as well as the artifacts preserved in the Dunhuang Manuscript Caves, initiated the study of Dunhuangology, which gradually gained worldwide popularity. Over more than a thousand years, Chinese Buddhist art created numerous cultural and artistic treasures, not only vividly reflecting the development and changes of Buddhism in each era but also providing concrete and authentic visual materials for studying the social customs of past dynasties in architecture, sculpture, painting, literature, music, as well as people's daily lives and productive activities. This book introduces the main forms of Buddhist art, hoping that readers can not only appreciate the unique artistic charm and aesthetic value of Buddhism but also understand its distinctive inner spirit.