A Study On The Group Images Of "Eight Groups" In Dunhuang Frescoes

The eight members are the eight guardians of the dharma: the heavens,the dragons,the asuras,the yakharas,the gandapha,the mahul,the panaras and the galura.In Dunhuang frescoes,there are not only the images of the eight groups,but also the eight groups in the form of human figures around the Lord and Zun.They often appear in scenes of Maitreya Sutra,Manjusri Sutra,Pusane Sutra,Vimalakirti Sutra,etc.In Dunhuang frescoes,there are more than 40 images of the eight groups extant.The study of Sichuan,Shanxi,South Korea,Japan and other places in China are all similar images.Therefore,a more comprehensive comb and study of the eight images of Dunhuang will be of benefit to the spread and evolution of the eight images,Dunhuang Buddhist figure paintings and ancient Chinese figure paintings.