Investigation And Research On The Existing Mural In Shanxi About Sudhana’s Learning From Fifty-three Advisers

A large number of murals in Shanxi about Sudhana’s learning from fifty-three advisers have been preserved in Shanxi temples,with a wide distribution range and a large geographical span from south Shanxi to north Shanxi,providing important material image data for the research on the development of murals in Shanxi about Sudhana’s learning from fifty-three advisers.Therefore,this paper mainly carried out the field investigation and the literature review to the murals about Sudhana’s learning from fifty three advisers temporarily found in Hongtong Guangsheng Temple,Taiyuan Chongshan Temple,Pingyao Shuanglin Temple,Datong Huayan Temple,Wutaishan Youguo Temple and Fanshi Jiajiajing Guandi Temple and made an in-depth study from five aspects: the origin,the basic situation and characteristics of these murals as well as the reasons for their popularity and the influence of their stories on Chinese traditional ideology.First of all,it discussed the origin of these murals from their classical basis and chalk powder draft,the ideological connotation of fifty-three advisers Sudhana learns from,and the evolution of Sudhana’s images.Secondly,according to the chronological order of existing murals in Shanxi temples,the basic contents of murals were analyzed one by one from perspectives of painting date,basic situation,chalk powder draft selection,artistic characteristics and the problems existing in the murals,etc.,and compared with texts in three types of chapter Entering the Dharma Realm of Avatamsaka Sutra and existing chalk powder drafts of these murals,reaching the conclusion that the painting of murals in Shanxi about Sudhana’s learning from fifty three advisers is mainly based on the text of New Avatamsaka Sutra and the chalk powder draft of Manjusri’s Guide.Thirdly,this paper summarized the general characteristics of murals in Shanxi about Sudhana’s learning from fifty three advisers,especially the large number of Chinese gods,local characteristics and daily life scenery integrated into these murals from four aspects,including the relationship between murals’ position and the hall statues,subject selection,the list types,and artistic characteristics by vertically and horizontally comparing murals about Sudhana’s learning from fifty three advisers in Shanxi and those in other regions.Finally,it analyzed the reasons for the popularity of those murals,and discussed the profound influence of the story of Sudhana’s learning from fifty three advisers on the concept of respecting teachers,idea of moral and profit,and equality in traditional Chinese thoughts,which has been continued till now based on the formation of Manjusri bodhisattva ashram on the Mount Wutai,the prevalence of Avatamsaka belief,the popularity of the belief in Guanyin bodhisattva and Sudhana,the promotion of Zen monks’ practice of “walking by feet”,the image of “Red Boy” in The Journey to the West and the influence of Confucian concepts of“filial piety” and “more children and more blessings”.