Buddhist Caves: The Cradle of Chinese Buddhist Art
The archetype of Buddhist art would be the Ajanta Caves in India. In China, it took shape in the form of architecture, carvings, paintings and calligraphy. Many examples of Buddhist art remaining today are considered masterpieces. For example, the UNESCO has listed the Dunhuang, Yungang, and Longmen Caves as Cultural Heritages. These caves are said to be the greatest natural museums of oriental Buddhist art.
In the past, Buddhist temples seldom promoted Buddhist art. Yet, in their talks on daily living, life, and the universe, mentions of aesthetic beauty are noticeable. In the Avatamsaka Sutra, the buddhas and bodhisattvas from the universe’s three thousand great chiliocosms has inspired magnificent pieces of thousand-buddha caves in China. In the Buddhacarita, stories of the Buddha’s life were written in a beautiful poetic style, which consequently inspired Buddhist hymn and chanting in China.
In the Vimalakirti Sutra, the witty dialogues between the celestial lady, Vimalakirti and Sariputra shaped classic dramas and dances such as “The Celestial Rain of Flowers.” The depiction of the Pure Land in the Amitabha Sutra was the basis for its majestic illustrations on other sutras. In fact, is the beauty in this world not a manifestation of the Pure Land itself? The paintings in the Dunhuang caves that combine Chinese, Indian, and ancient Western Region cultures have inspired the world-renowned Dunhuang dance. These are not merely means of propagation used by past Buddhist masters but also priceless modem assets of the Dharma.
Four Buddhist Grottoes in China
Such masterpieces showcased Chinese culture and Buddhism to the world. These honorable Buddhist masters had dedicated their lives to Buddhism, and enabled the dissemination of the essence of Chinese culture and Buddhism. How can we not be grateful and value the scope of Buddhist art?
Just as our beauty is found in our character and wisdom, the greatness of a country resides within its culture and art. What people admire today at the Great British Museum, the Louvre, and the Art Institute of Chicago are collections of Chinese art and culture that have gained prominence amongst the originally dominant Western collections. As much as we may regret the loss of such Chinese treasures, it probably has been for the best. During the course of China’s countless periods of war and chaos, doubtless many of these artifacts would have been either damaged or destroyed. In the end, these countries aid us not only in preserving Chinese culture, but also in showcasing it to the world.
Rock Carvings and Paintings
From the beginning, Buddhism already exerted tremendous influence on Chinese art and culture. The statues, paintings, manuscripts and texts found in the Dunhuang caves eclipse the discovery of Qin Shi Huang’s Terracotta Army. Some universities have even listed Dunhuang Studies as the focus of their professional research programs.
For over a thousand years, rulers, ministers, Buddhists, devotees and common people have regarded the Dunhang caves as the greatest treasure of the world. Even the splendor of the Ajanta Caves in India pales in comparison. It is certainly a miracle for these vivid statues, extraordinarily beautiful reliefs, and carvings of Buddhist sutras to have survived the flames of war and been well preserved in the remote Gansu Province. To date, several hundred professionals at the Dunhuang Museum have taken on the responsibility to preserve, repair and maintain these artistic and cultural treasures, which are certainly not exclusive to just Chinese but also for the entire world.
Other than the Dunhuang Caves, the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, carved by Tanyao, from the Northern Wei Dynasty are also of unparalleled magnificence. The majestic statue of Sakyamuni Buddha is often featured in magazines and other publications. It has been listed as one of the most valuable art pieces in the world.
Moving onto the Longmen Grottoes in Henan, the elegant postures of buddhas and bodhisattvas remind us of Tang Dynasty ladies whose beauty were revealed in their robust and lush body figures. The most iconic would be Yang Guifei (719-756) and Empress Wu Zetian. Sculptures from the period portrayed buddhas and bodhisattvas with humanly statures, which is certainly in the spirit of Humanistic Buddhism.
The fine carvings and elegant postures displayed by the buddha and bodhisattva statues at the Maijishan Grottoes are simply stunning. The serene and solemn Baoding Buddha Carvings of the Nirvana of Sakyamuni Buddha are also priceless treasures of Buddhist art. Other cave temples found along the Silk Road are also rich treasuries of carvings and paintings.
Source: Hsing Yun. Humanistic Buddhism: Holding True to the Original Intents of Buddha. Kaohsiung: Fo Guang Cultural Enterprise Co., 2016, p.161-165.
