On The Art Of Statue Stele Of The Northern Wei Dynasty In Shaanxi Yaoxian County

There are twenty-eight statue monuments in the Northern Wei Dynasty in Yaoxian area,including Buddhist statue monuments,Buddhist and Taoist mixed statue monuments,Taoist statue monuments,etc.These materials are basically preserved in Yaoxian Yaowang Mountain Stele Forest Museum.These statue monuments of this period are the earliest Taoist statue monuments and mixed statue monuments of Buddhism and Taoism in ancient China.The artistic characteristics of the statue monuments of this period have multiple values ??such as interpretation of themes and generalization of styles.Statues and steles are often carved with niches in the Yang and Yin of the steles.Some statues are also carved with niches on the left and right of the stele;most of the niches are a combination of two servants,the main deity is either a Buddha or Tao.For the statue,Wei Wenlang’s Buddhist and Taoist mixed statue monument has Buddha and Taoism sitting side by side in the same statue niche.The statue niches simulate the scenes of Buddha and Taoism teaching and practicing: the statue niches have niches,decorative patterns,etc.,intertwined with buildings,twin dragons,ribbon birds,flying heavens,lotus flowers,incense burners,patrons and even elephants,The combination of deer and other patterns reflects the Buddhist world that people support.There may be sun and moon wheels around the statue niches,which are the same as the traditional space creation in the early images,and together with flying dragons and flying heavens,they form a world of beauty in the Buddhist world.In the lower part of the statue niche,there are many supporting people,carriages and horses traveling graphics,etc.,combined with the upper part of the Buddhist kingdom to form a "heaven and man" scene.There are text inscriptions on the sides of these patrons,carts and horses travel pictures,including the patron’s name,vows,etc.,which are precious materials for understanding the identity of the statue group and the spread and integration of regional Buddhism and Taoism.As far as the art form is concerned,the main statue of the statue monument in the early stage is basically completely seated in the statue niche,and the dress skirt of the later statue hangs over the statue niche,which has certain decorative characteristics.The statues of the main statue and the threatened servant mostly adopt the form of high relief.The religious and cultural decorations such as flying,double dragon,and lion mostly adopt the style of reduced ground bas-relief.The supporters and inscriptions adopt the method of Yin line carving,which not only inherits the characteristics of Han Dynasty inscriptions,Combined with religious statues,it had a greater impact on statue monuments and even grotto statues in the Northern Dynasty.