Dunhuang Grottoes Collection — Buddhist Eastward Transmission Scroll Paintings (12)

Author: Compiled by the Dunhuang Academy, Edited by Sun Xiushen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-06-01
Features: This volume explores the historical images of Buddhism's introduction from India to China, based on 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 "" () and "" (). This volume temporarily uses the more easily understandable term "Buddhist Eastward Transmission Story Paintings," which generally includes legends of (), tales of eminent monks, stories of historical figures related to Buddhism, and auspicious image illustrations. It is a major category of Buddhist art content but has rarely been studied by scholars, with many research topics still awaiting exploration. Among the 492 caves in the southern section of the Mogao Grottoes, 48 contain historical story paintings, nearly one-tenth of the total, with over 30 confirmed themes after research. Compared to the grand and majestic Buddhist scripture paintings and the life stories of the Buddha, 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 their historical value is 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 the historical exchanges between China, India, and Central Asia, as well as the process of Buddhism's sinicization.