A Study On The Caission Cellings Patterns Of Mogao Grottoes In The Sui And Early Tang Dynasties

This dissertation focuses on the the caisson patterns of the Mogao Grottoes in the Sui and early Tang dynasties and some other relevant patterns in an attempt to explore their over-all and periodical features by probing into their design,patterns,shapes,cultural origins and semantic changes in the context of the politics,economy,culture and cultural exchanges at that time.The Sui Dynasty is a preparation for the prosperous Tang Dynasty,and that is also true of the caisson ceiling patterns of the Sui Mogao Grottoes.In this dissertation,the shapes,content and categories of caisson ceiling patterns of the Mogao Grottoes in the Sui Dynasty,which evolved from simplicity to complexity,featured self-renewal and served as a link between past and future,are analyzed and compared at three different developmental stages.With the early Tang Dynasty divided into four historical periods,the development,innovation and differences of these caisson ceiling patterns are expounded,and the formation of their forceful,harmonious and splendid styles and influencing factors discussed.In the Sui and Tang dynasties,Buddhist art developed unprecedentedly.With the sinicization of Buddhist doctrine and changes in grotto design,the aesthetics of caisson ceilings started to change,and their appearance also transformed from architecture to woven fabric,from religion to worldliness the best of its tradition carried on and the old integrated with the new.Then,the non-native feature of the grottoes started to recede while their local color became heavier as manifested in their lotus,bead string and honeysuckle designs.Since the early Tang dynasty,the design of the Mogao Grottoes had been under the influence of the artistic styles of Chang'an and Luoyang,and gradually started to synchronize with those of the Central Plains during the reign of Emperor Kaiyuan and Emperor Tianbao.Based on the analysis of art and craft design of the Mogao Grottoes and the Central Plains,the lotus flower and curling grass patterns are categorized and compared with the art design of the CentralPlains in term of origin,structure and shape,and their three developmental stages are presented in diagrams.The focus of this research is on the origins,categories and evolution of the patterns of grapes,pomegranates,honeysuckles,bead strings,lotus flowers and curling grasses of different times,and the connotations and origins of fret,diamonds,tortoise shells and vertical drapery patterns are explained and classified based on statistical data.The caisson ceiling patterns of the Mogao Grottoes in the Sui and early Tang dynasties,which integrate the Han culture and the northern barbarian culture in ancient China,are a vivid manifestation of the integration of the Central Plains culture with alien culture.The then three-rabbit,winged horse patterns and their like are compared with the ornamental designs of China,Central and West Asia to explore the all-embracing characteristics of the Mogao Grotto patterns and their multicultural genes.