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Ancient Chinese sculpture is the essence of ancient Chinese art. Ancient Chinese sculpture has distinctive and strong national and contemporary characteristics in terms of subject matter, content, form, style, sculpture techniques, and materials used. For example, the sculptures of the Qin and Han Dynasties are bold and majestic, the sculptures of the Wei and Jin Dynasties are vigorous and unrestrained, and the sculptures of the Tang and Song Dynasties are rich and elegant. Ancient Chinese sculptures are also full of the characteristics of freehand brushwork and expressiveness. If we look closely, there are few that meet the true standards of reality like the works of ancient Greece. It is not used to playing with the surface and details of sculptures. It prefers the feeling and artistic conception induced by the external image, triggering a series of reverie spaces and leading people to an art world.

The themes of ancient sculptures are mainly mausoleum sculptures, religious sculptures, labor life and folk sculptures. Art categories include round sculptures, relief sculptures, commemorative sculptures, desk sculptures, architectural and utensil decoration sculptures, etc. The sculpture materials are also rich and varied. In addition to bronze, stone, brick, mud, pottery and other materials, there are also jade carvings, ivory carvings, wood carvings, etc. Bamboo carvings etc.

Chinese original sculptures are mainly pottery sculptures of people and various animals. Most of the human figures are decorations attached to practical utensils. They are very random and the images are simple and childish. Sculpture works during the Shang and Zhou dynasties were mainly made of bronzes. The patterns on bronzes mainly included animal patterns and geometric patterns. The bronze ritual vessels of the Shang Dynasty are unique in shape, full of majesty and mystery, sublime and weird beauty. Among the large numbers of sculptures unearthed from archaeological excavations during this period, there are no statues of gods. This is a unique phenomenon in the history of world sculpture art. After the Western Zhou Dynasty, its style tended to be realistic and rational. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it became more prosperous and gorgeous. In addition to ritual vessels during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, there were also some practical bronzes such as utensil stands and bases, as well as stone, bone, and jade carvings, including figures and animals, all of which were ingeniously shaped and finely crafted.

Sculptures in the Qin and Han Dynasties were unprecedentedly prosperous, the most typical of which is the Terracotta Warriors and Horses sculpture group in the Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang. Contrary to the mysterious and weird style of bronzes, the terracotta warriors and horses are full of sublime and masculine beauty. These tens of thousands of terracotta warriors and horses show affirmation of human power. The characters and horses are all the same size as real ones, without any exaggeration. With its huge size, large number, and realistic image, it produces a shocking artistic charm. The large animal stone carvings in front of the tomb of Huo Qubing, a famous general in the Western Han Dynasty, are concise and summarized in technique, showing the beauty of strength in their simplicity. Among them, "Horse Trampling the Huns" once again experiences the expressive and expressive characteristics of Chinese sculpture art. Although the horse is rough and clumsy, it still has a kind of agility. The few lightly carved strokes are the horse's legs, which are integrated with the horse's upper body. There are no extra stones that are not hollowed out at all, and some are complete. Horse image.

The heavy burial style of the Han Dynasty resulted in numerous sculptures of animal figurines and human figurines, with simple shapes, exaggerated expressions and an emphasis on momentum. The secular life of the Han Dynasty became the material of sculptures. Scenes such as rice pounding, taro picking, wine making, dance, music and various operas were abundantly present in the form of reliefs in the brick portraits of the Han Dynasty. The life of local officials such as feasting, driving, and practicing archery were also reflected. Performance.

Of all the religions in the world, Buddhism is the most artistic. With the popularity of Buddhism, Buddhist sculptures became the mainstream of sculpture art in the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. The four famous grottoes of Yungang, Dunhuang, Longmen and Maijishan were all excavated in this era. Generally speaking, the statues of the Northern Wei Dynasty were influenced by the styles of India or the Western Regions in form and style. They were solemn and simple, showing the power of the Buddha in silence. The Buddhist sculptures of the Southern and Northern Dynasties integrated the aesthetic fashion of Han intellectuals, forming a new style of praising clothes, showing off the bones, and showing off the figures.

The Sui and Tang Dynasties were the heyday of ancient Chinese sculpture. Its achievements were first reflected in grotto sculptures, such as the stone carvings of Fengxian Temple in Longmen Grottoes. Its carving technique is smooth and skillful, creating a completely national style. It not only reflects the broad and powerful spirit of the times of the Tang Empire, but also shows the rich imagination and superb carving skills of the Tang people. If Buddhism was first introduced to China, its statues were still imitating India, but by the time of the "Lushena Buddha Statue" of Longmen Fengxian Temple in the Tang Dynasty, Chinese sculptors had matured their skills and had a profound understanding of the essence of Buddha sculpture art. understanding. The Lushena Buddha statue is already a Chinese Buddha statue.

"Six Horses of Zhaoling" is a relief sculpture in front of the tomb of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. It is in the same vein as the Terracotta Warriors and Horses. "Six Horses of Zhaoling" embodies the realistic techniques of ancient Chinese sculpture, without exaggeration or blurry and weird shapes. , these carvings also show an affirmation of the power of nature and man. In addition, the real and vivid three-color figurines and the Dazu Grottoes in Sichuan are the most representative of the artistic level of sculpture in the Tang Dynasty. The ordinary characters in the various sutra stories in the Dazu Grottoes are more life-like and realistic, and many of the works can be regarded as portraits of ordinary people.

The increase of secular themes and the development of realistic styles are the main characteristics of sculpture art in the Song, Liao and Jin dynasties. The colorful sculptures of Jinci Temple in Shanxi, Lingyan Temple in Changqing, Shandong, and Zhibao Holy Temple in Jiangsu are all vivid and vivid. It expresses the mood of the world and is highly realistic. The Bodhisattva statues at Huayan Temple in Datong during the Liao Dynasty have graceful postures, subtle expressions, and gorgeous clothes, which are very much in the style of Tang Dynasty sculptures. In addition, small clay sculptures have reached a very high level in terms of realism.

There are certain limitations in ancient Chinese sculptures. Compared with the West, the imperial views and artistic views of China's royal palace aristocrats are also for the purpose of showing power and praising virtues. China's royal palace aristocrats avoid direct shaping. He used dragons, phoenixes, lions, unicorns and other auspicious animals as well as servants, troops, and warriors to highlight his greatness and holiness. Similarly, among Buddhist sculptures, ancient sculptors were able to best demonstrate their realistic depiction abilities only with Arhat, Bodhisattva, and Guanyin, while those with the most limited creative freedom were the Lord Buddha.

Classical sculpture may easily be regarded as too old and too traditional, but the author believes that respecting tradition means recognizing the continuity of art history. Sculpture art requires continuous innovation and exploration, but any innovation is not whimsical. It is unconventional, and innovation also means inheriting tradition. Today's traditional art is being increasingly challenged by Western modernism. The new trend of thought wants to destroy all old traditions. But why do today's artists return to the ruins to look for the remaining traditional culture? Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Let us step into the dust of history and reminisce about the charm of Chinese classical sculpture art.

Reference materials: http://www.chinaschool.org/sgyy/KKKK/kkk1/AA01.htm