A Study On Buddhist Clothing Culture In Han Region

After Buddhism spread to Han region, influenced by Chinese history, region, nation and the other factors, it was continually embraced by traditional culture and custom of Han region. Buddhism in Han region was characterized by its richness of Chinese color and identity which is outstandingly pronounced in Buddhist clothing. The study combing heritages, sculptures and the images of wall-paintings with the broad social history researches on the whole character of Buddhist clothing culture in Han region by analyzing the differences of the varied rules on the Buddhist clothing between Indian Buddhist scripture and Chinese Buddhist document. Investigating the progress of localization and secularization of Buddhist clothing in China, it develops and enriches the system of Chinese clothing culture from a creative viewpoint.Centering on the orientation of Buddhist clothing of Han region, the study consists of seven parts except of introduction and conclusion, including the following chapters:1. The trace of regulations on Buddhist clothing in Han region.2. Institutions of monk Buddhist clothing in Han region.3. Formation and development of monk common clothing in Han region.4. Styles of clothing of early Buddhist statues in Han region.5. Development of styles of clothing of Buddhist statues in Han region.The introduction of Buddhist clothing culture in Han region defines the specialized scope and explains its value, motivation, purpose and method. Meanwhile it raises a new issue basing on the full research on the current situation of monk clothing and Buddhist image clothing from present Buddhist and academic worlds,Chapter one gives a general showing of the formation of Indian monk clothing in the days of Gautam Buddha, which analyzes Buddhist sutras, researches the styles, types, colors and materials of the garments dressed on the Buddha and the Buddhists and considers their irregular clothing styles in life to provide theory bases for inheritance and creativity of monk clothing culture in Han region and to make preparation for the later research.Chapter two makes a concrete analysis on the popular dressing of monks in Han region including its types, colors, functions, materials and ways to dress and especially focuses on the new rules and new types of monk Buddhist clothing in Han region, carrying forward the old laws of Indian monk clothing, to explore the its representation in Buddhist and social activities as an important vehicle of Buddhist culture under the influence of Chinese history, geography and ethnicity and other factorsChapter three explores the factors to form monk common clothing and probes its profound philosophy meaning combining with the close combination with the characteristics of Han national clothing culture. On the surface, monk common clothing of Han region as the religion clothing plays the same role of the monk Buddhist clothing which is an identification to distinguish from common persons. But on the culture level, it's obvious that the culture of monk Buddhist clothing which is an important part of the human being culture has deepened into the soil of Han nation culture and endowed the further culture color and philosophical theory. As Monk common clothing of Han region largely maintains Chinese ancient clothing culture, it provides treasure information for its studiesChapter four compares characteristics of Buddhist statues in the early stage of Buddhism to Han region before Eastern Jin Dynasty and Sixteen States and researches on the early style feature of Buddhist image clothing in subjection to Chinese traditional religion to reveal its unique intrinsic value and aesthetic connotation. The study on its subject matter, ideological content and social culture function reflects the feature of nationalization and secularization and deeply probes the solemn meaning of Buddhist image clothing in the perspective of Buddhist principle.Chapter five makes a cohort analysis on the changing styles of the statues clothing of Buddha and Bodhisattva during the four critical history stages from the North and South Dynasty to the Song and Yuan Dynasties, which displays trends and secular notions of social thought of different periods. In chinese history Buddhism Statues art finally merged with chinese national art and became one of essential elements of chinese culture after a long-term inheritance, revolution and creation during chinese history. The development of its style, which changed From the stable style in the North and South Dynasty to its extensive connotation in the Sui and Tang Dynasties and turned to a rich declination after the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties, describes clearly the context of localization and secularization of Buddhist clothing in China to offer valuable reference information to the Chinese traditional clothing culture.Conclution is a general description about the outside relationship. Buddhist clothing culture is integrated into the system of chinese traditional clothing culture, on the other hand it pushed forward chinese culture during the interactions. The study on conflicting and merging between the system of Buddhist clothing and the culture of Chinese traditional clothing during the two thousand years describes the Buddhist clothing culture of Han region has successfully drawn the culture elements and the profound meaning of it under the influence of its cross-cultural spread, secular moral regulations, confucianism ethics and aesthetic standards. Buddhist clothing study has practical significance to inherit and promote chinese national culture which is completed on the new level. At the same time it's to stimulate chinese Buddhism culture and be inevitablity and nessesity in Buddhism study.