195. Longmen caves

 

Longmen caves 
Luoyang, China. Tang Dynasty. 493-1127 C.E. Limestone 

The aesthetic elements and features of the Chinese cave temples' art, including the layout, material, function, traditional technique and location, and the intrinsic link between the layout and the various elements have been preserved and passed on. Great efforts have been made to maintain the historical appearance of the caves and preserve and pass on the original Buddhist culture and its spiritual and aesthetic functions, while always adhering to the principle of "Retaining the historic condition".

Form:

• Caves along the banks of the Yi river in China. 
• Sculptures carved into the existing limestone, some colossal, some small 
• Linear and abstract motifs are typical of the mature Northern Wei style
• Dynamic low relief decoration reflective of Chinese style

Function:  

• Record the lineage of the patriarchs who passed on Buddhism
• Asserted sovereignty and power
• Used for assimilation 
• Foreign religion used to affirm superiority

 Content:

• The site includes 110,000 Buddhist stone statues, more than 60 stupas, and 2,800 inscriptions on steles
• Central Binyang cave- 508 C.E
• previously painted.
• pentad grouping of figures
• The Buddha sits on an altar, deeply carved into the rock
• Fengxian Temple
• Vairocana Buddha has monk attendants bodhisattvas, and guardians flanking his side
• High relief in a semi-circle
• Immense size (55ft) shows supreme deity
• Vajrapani, detailed musculature, strength, and animated expression
• Elongated legs and exaggerated poses
• Kanjing Temple 
• accurate depiction of arhats, monks long on their way to enlightenment
• 29 in procession
• Carvings line the walls

Context:

• 800,000 people worked on the site
• The inscription states that Empress Wu Zetian was the principal patroness
• Used her private funds to finance the project
• Buddhism transmitted to China by chance and intermittently
• 5-8th Century C.E. (Wei and Tang dynasties)
• Wei dynasty founded by Tuoba nomads from Northern China
• used Chinese style to gain acceptance from the rest of China
• Relief carvings commemorate historical events
• Empress Dowager's visits in 517 and 523 C.E .

Cross Cultural Comparisons: Grand Outdoor Sculpture

• Great Altar of Zeus and Athena at Pergamon
• Bamiyan Buddha
• Moai