The Dunhuang murals are a treasure trove for studying the art of painting in the Tang Dynasty, and a large number of painting art works have been preserved. Since the Sui Dynasty, the feminization of images such as bodhisattvas, flying heavens, and music dancers has become increasingly obvious, and the Dunhuang murals of the Tang Dynasty have inherited this trend, and the women's costumes and costumes in the paintings present the aesthetic ideals of the Tang Dynasty, reflecting the characteristics of the era of Sinicization and multicultural integration. On the one hand, inheriting and developing the traditional costumes of the Central Plains, on the other hand, it was influenced by the Buddhist art in India and the Western Regions, and the fusion of the two injected new vitality into the women's costumes of the Tang Dynasty, which has profound cultural and historical value.
From the perspective of modeling, the female shapes in the Tang Dunhuang murals are realistic and moderately proportioned, reflecting the dynamic beauty of the curves, and the images of bodhisattvas, flying heavens and music dancers are becoming increasingly feminine. From the perspective of color, dunhuang mural art, on the basis of maintaining the traditional line drawing art of the Central Plains, creatively exerts and integrates the color concepts of the East and the West, so that its painting art becomes its distinctive feature, presenting a grand scene of "full of walls and splendor". In short, the images of bodhisattvas, flying heavens and music dancers in the Dunhuang murals of the Tang Dynasty are based on the female figures of the Tang Dynasty, reflecting the cultural spirit of the times.
Bodhisattva - Mogao Cave 103 - Sheng Tang
【Bodhisattva】
Dunhuang Tang Dynasty murals have a lot of bodhisattva images, in Indian Buddhist art, the image of bodhisattvas have men and women, with the introduction of Buddhist art to China, through the Sui Dynasty evolution, to the Tang Dynasty, Dunhuang murals in the bodhisattva has been everywhere reflected the femininity of women.
Especially cave 57 of the early Tang Dynasty of Mogao Grottoes, the world-famous "beauty bodhisattva"!
Thinking Bodhisattva - Mogao Cave 71 - Chu Tang
There are many interpretations of the reasons why bodhisattvas appear in the female form, and one of them is probably recognized by the public: the Buddhist concept of compassion is analogous to a certain inner characteristic of women, and the compassion and softness of women are expressed in daily behavior, that is, love, just as a mother's love for her children is selfless and meticulous.
【Flying】
Feitian - Mogao Cave 39 - Sheng Tang
The flying sky in the Dunhuang Tang Dynasty murals is very exquisite, almost every cave. Fei Tian, also known as "Chandapa" and "Kinnara", is a figure from ancient mythology that originated in India, specializing in entertainment and singing and dancing.
Dancing Flying Sky - Yulin Cave Cave 25 - Zhongtang
The characters in the flying sky have a vivid posture and beautiful shape, which not only gives people an intuitive image of "flying in the sky and full of walls and wind", but also fully displays the beauty, demeanor and charm of women through murals.
【Music And Dance Tricks】
Dancing music maiko - Mogao Cave Cave 220 - Chu Tang
The female music and dance tricks in the Dunhuang Tang Dynasty murals mainly include Tiangong music tricks and maiko. According to the Buddhist scriptures, all the gods engaged in music and dance activities in the upper boundary of the Buddha's kingdom can be called Tiangong Music Tricks, the musicians are called "Music Tricks", and the dancers are called "Maiko".
"Art comes from life", the image of the music and maiko in the Dunhuang Tang Dynasty murals, whether from the gorgeous costumes or the graceful dance posture, reflects the considerable social status of women in the Tang Dynasty.
【Goddess】
Tiannu - Mogao Caves Cave 334 - Chu Tang
Regarding the image of the Celestial Daughter, scholars generally believe that her prototype is the image of a young aristocratic woman in ancient real life, such as the queen concubines of the emperor, princesses, or the wives and daughters of the princes and nobles. The perfect appearance of the goddess and the vast divine powers that benefit all sentient beings are actually the sublimation of the ideal female image in the minds of the ancients.
Tiannu - Mogao Caves Cave 103 - Sheng Tang
The Heavenly Daughter in the Vimal Room in the Tang Dynasty murals in Dunhuang is no less argumentative than that of the Buddhist disciple Sariputta, who is known for his wisdom. From the calm and calm mood of the heavenly woman in the picture, we can see the wise and elegant side of the women of the Tang Dynasty. There is also a very important type of female figure in the Dunhuang Tang Dynasty murals of female providers, although they do not appear in the Dunhuang Grottoes as "goddesses", but they are female benefactors who funded the opening of cave statues. Here, two exquisite female offerings are also listed here, and readers are invited to look at the image of women in the world in the Tang Dynasty.
【Female Provider】
Female provider - Mogao Cave 431 - Early Tang Dynasty
The female devotees in the Tang Dynasty murals in Dunhuang include both wealthy families and ordinary people, as well as bhikshunis. The female provider in the first picture above wears daily clothing and belongs to the tang dynasty civilian women. The female devotees in the second painting are a group of Dudu Lady Li Buddha diagrams, showing the scene of the ancient aristocratic women collectively worshiping the Buddha, this group of offerings is real in shape, full of life, and the characters are plump and greasy, showing the confident and dignified side of Women in the Tang Dynasty.
Source: Hexi Corridor FM