What are the characteristics of the sculpture works in the Song Dynasty?

The Song Dynasty Zen Buddhism was prevalent, Zen Buddhism is the pursuit of "my heart has its own Buddha, since the Buddha is the real Buddha", not only opposed to the construction of temples and statues, and some big radical Zen masters even burned wooden Buddha to warm. Coupled with this period, absorbed Taoism, Buddhism, the new school of Confucianism - Zhu Cheng "science" rise, to some extent, also weakened the worship of idols, so that the Song dynasty grottoes excavated a significant reduction in the temple statues are also lacking in the previous generation of the scale and momentum. Song sculpture achievement is not in the statue of Buddha, bodhisattva statue and embodied in the many not the main object of worship on the statue of luohan. Lohan is a high priest, its sculpture image comes directly from real life. Temperament, character diversity, with considerable depth of thought Lohan group sculpture, so that the Song Dynasty Buddhist sculpture presents a secular tendency.

Song sculpture techniques and styles of new creations, but its overall style has lost the Tang Dynasty works of the majestic and unrestrained atmosphere. General art history writings, are considered the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties is the decline or stagnation of ancient Chinese sculpture. But also in this period, pragmatic and diligent Song people but for future generations created another world of sculpture - all kinds of small sculpture flourished. These expensive materials, fine works, often reflecting the author's ingenious artistic conception and amazing carving skills.