Why does Tiangong Kabuki appear in Dunhuang murals? Is Tiangong Kabuki used to entertain the Buddha?

Was Tengong Kabuki used to entertain the Buddha? Dunhuang art has continued for thousands of years, and has been accompanied by the development of the ancient Chinese art of music. There is no lack of music and dance elements in the classic Dunhuang artworks. Peace, harmony and joy are synonymous with them, and the beauty of the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss depends on it. The development of music and dance elements epitomized the times due to the different contexts of the times, which is why the development of music and dance was particularly prosperous during the Tang Dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty, there were song and dance performances at Dunhuang, showing bodhisattvas, dancing and dancing to entertain the Buddha.

This work has been modified and reproduced by experts from the Dunhuang Academy of Fine Arts. There are many paintings of Buddhist scriptures from the Tang Dynasty, often showing images of music and dance. Although it mirrors the festive scenes of the Buddha's kingdom, it actually reflects the highly developed state of music and dance in Tang Dynasty China. It is assumed that the dance in the picture is the famous Hu Xuan Dance of the Tang Dynasty. Hu Xuan Dance is a kind of Western folk dance, is a kind of spinning dance in the Western region, originated in the Silk Road, is one of the most popular dance in the Tang Dynasty. The Hu Xuan Dance has a fast beat, galloping and joyful, with a lot of spinning and stomping, so it is called Hu Xuan.

The accompanying music is mainly percussion, echoing its fast tempo and majestic style. In the picture, two people stand on one foot on a mat and spin and dance, with their costumes fluttering, showing the popularity of the dance at that time and the dancers' exquisite skills. In the picture above, two bodhisattvas stand on a lotus flower, each holding an incense burner. The head of the bodhisattva on top is covered by a translucent green circular lamp, while the bodhisattva on the bottom looks benevolently at the dancer in the center. Experts from the Dunhuang Academy of Fine Arts have revised and transcribed parts of the work, "Wule Tu - The Early Tang Dynasty".

This image shows an orchestra to the left and right of a musical figure of a dance. Each member of the band is playing an instrument and has different colored circular lights above their heads. The band consists mainly of stringed, wind and percussion instruments. In the painting, two bodhisattvas are standing on a lotus flower, which is topped with a bunch of high buns, holding incense burners and translucent circular lamps above their heads. At the bottom, the bodhisattvas are holding shell-shaped containers and making a devotional pilgrimage. The sound of pipa strings seems to be still in your ears, and the whirling dance seems to be still in front of your eyes. Watch Dunhuang songs and dances, enjoy the Tang Dynasty, and see the world in many colors. Dunhuang Lingyan Pure Land, Buddhist music Pure Land, exquisite craftsmanship, are reflected in the painting.