Buddhism and the origin of grotto art

Mr. Liang Sicheng once said, "From the thoughts of ordinary people to everything, everything is influenced by Buddhism." Indeed, with the introduction of Buddhism, Buddhist art, as an important carrier, followed, and had a far-reaching impact on China society, among which the art of cave temples was the most important.

Cave temples were first seen in the peacock dynasty of India, and their appearance was related to the invasion of Alexander the Great and the establishment of relations between India and West Asia. The success of cave temples is largely attributed to Asoka. After Ashoka advocated Buddhism, the excavation of cave temples became popular and became a common means of implementation, and China was no exception. After the Northern Wei Dynasty resumed Buddhism in Wen Chengdi, Emperor Xiaowen and Buddhism prevailed in the ruling group of the Northern Wei Dynasty in the early years. Buddhism was introduced from the Han Dynasty, and its spread was carried out in three ways: Buddha statues, teachings and monks. Among them, the Buddha statue is the most widely circulated. The early monasteries and stone carvings were all in the western Indian style, with plump faces, fat limbs and solemn performance. Since the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Chinese-style Buddha statues have begun to take shape.

Dig a cave temple, in which statues of buddhas and bodhisattvas and Buddhist murals are respectfully painted, build stupas, dig Buddhist halls and meditation rooms for people to worship, pay homage, hold some Buddhist activities and retreats, and become attached to Buddhism widely, so as to carry forward and spread Buddhism, which is a good thing of great merit and self-interest. In addition, because of its firmness and weathering resistance, the excavation of grottoes also hopes that Buddhism can be passed down through the ages to protect the country and religion. So many Buddhist believers in history are happy to dig Buddhist grottoes.

China Han Buddhism Grottoes began in the 3rd century A.D. and prevailed in the 5th-8th century. After the transition from the Northern Dynasty to the Sui Dynasty, it reached its peak in the Tang Dynasty, and the number of caves excavated after16th century was small. This is a process of major changes and reorganization of foreign cultures. The existing grottoes are mainly distributed in Xinjiang (ancient western regions), western Gansu (ancient Hexi region), the Yellow River basin and the Yangtze River basin, with sporadic distribution in the south. Xinjiang is an area where China accepted Buddhism earlier, and the earliest grottoes were dedicated to Qizil Grottoes here. There are a large number of cave temple sites in Xinjiang, and about 14 * * * have been investigated, which are mainly distributed in the southern foot of Tianshan Mountain from Kashgar to the east along the northern edge of Tarim Basin. Most of them are located along the Silk Road, an ancient east-west traffic artery, including Qizil Thousand Buddha Cave in Baicheng, Kumutula Grottoes in Kuqa, Senmusen Grottoes and Shengjinkou Grottoes in Huoyan Mountain.

Although the grottoes in China are the remains of Indian Buddhist culture in China cultural circle, once they are integrated with the Central Plains culture, they immediately form distinctive national characteristics in grotto architecture, murals and sculptures. In terms of form and use, Indian-made twips were introduced into China. There is not much gathering space in the cave, but a temple is built outside the cave. On the other hand, the cave temple Vikrone is uninhabited, but another temple is built in front of or next to it for monks to live in. The function of the cave is simplified and only used for visiting and celebrating.

Buddhism is a religion that attaches great importance to aesthetics, and embodies the beauty of personality and Buddhism with the beauty of scriptures and Buddha statues. Making Buddha statues is an ambition to practice Buddhism, and it is also a kind of kindness to accumulate virtue and do good deeds. His statues not only have elegant artistic beauty, but also pay attention to the sublimation of inner religious spirit. Because the purpose of making Buddha statues is to help believers admire the Buddha and remember to practice Buddhism. Therefore, artists who have been engaged in Buddhism in the past dynasties have created solemn Buddhism with sincere religious beliefs, thinking about the meaning of Buddhism and outstanding artistic talents, so that believers can be impressed by its lofty and beautiful Buddhism when watching and worshiping Buddha statues, and then realize the eternal kindness, wisdom and joy of the Buddha.