Groups of Images

 

 

Most of the time, people viewed Buddhist images not individually, but in assemblages. This was true both on the altars of temples and in the shrines people had in their homes. In looking at assemblages of Buddhist figures, it is important to notice differences in size and relative placement.

 

What do you notice about size, posture, and position in this grouping of images in a Dunhuang cave temple?

What is the effect of placing the Buddha in an assemblage?

Northern Wei stone relief from Yungang, 5th c

Height: 305 cm (10 ft)

SOURCE:  Zhongguo meishu quanji, Diaosu bian, v. 10 (Beijing: Wenwu chubanshe, 1988),  p. 60.

Below are two sections of Western Wei (6th century) murals from Dunhuang. The first one is of two Buddhas flanked by two Bodhisattvas with two apsaras floating above, the other of the Buddha expounding his teachings. He is surrounded by similar figures.

What do you notice about the layouts of these two pictures?

Mural from Dunhuang, 6th c      

Height: 80 cm (2 ft 7 in), width: 100 cm (3 ft 3 in)

SOURCE:  Zhongguo meishu quanji, Huihua bian, v. 14 (Shanghai: Shanghai renmin meishu chubanshe, 1985), p. 101. 

Besides the central placement of the Buddha figure what other visual clues identify him as the Buddha? List the features.

Can you identify the Bodhisattva and apsara figures?

What do you notice about the brushstrokes used to paint the figures?

SOME THOUGHTS:  In an attempt to imitate Indian models which emphasized the plastic quality of the figures, painters used thick, heavy brushstrokes to paint this mural. As Buddhist painting evolved in China, painters began to adopt a more linear style which reflected Chinese aesthetic tastes.

 

Mural from Dunhuang, 6th c

Height: 330 cm (10 ft 9 in), width: 225 cm (7 ft 4 in)

SOURCE:  Zhongguo meishu quanji, Huihua bian v. 14 (Shanghai: Shanghai renmin meishu chubanshe, 1985), p. 78. 

 

 

 

Look closely at each figure in this bronze shrine. Identify each and tell what details are particular to this shrine.

 

ANSWER:  The Buddha is in the center of the composition. The Bodhisattva figures are situated just below the Buddha and two gods of strength can be found along the bottom.

                                           Bronze shrine, 584                                   Height: 46 cm (1 ft 6 in)

SOURCE:  Zhongguo meishu quanji, Diaosu bian, v. 4 (Beijing: renmin meishu chubanshe, 1988), p. 1.

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