The Formation And Development Of The Artistic Value Of Yungang Grottoes

Yungang grottoes were built by the government of minority at the North Wei Dynasty. The artistic style, aesthetic features and social significance of Yungang grottoes have close contact with the society. As a kind of art it is representing of the dominance of ruling class. The grottoes of Five Grottoes of Tanyao were built according the appearance of emperors'. The changing of artistic style is the result of the national amalgamation. The artistic value of it is not important at that time. As the death of North Wei Dynasty, the previous relationship with government has gone. The artistic value of Yunggang Grottoes gets important. Now Yunggang Grottoes is one of the World Material culture heritages because it's a art that can represent the development of Buddhist Sculptures from the 5th to 6th centuries at China. At the same time it works as the landmark at the city of Datong, and play an important role in the culture and economy development in this city.From North Wei Dynasty to contemporary, the artistic value of the Yungang grottoes has a process of formation and development. On social function , the relationship between the grottoes and governments changed. It had been the representation of social ideology, and now been considered as culture property. In the way of promote and represent culture identity, Yunggang grottoes used been promotion and representation of national amalgamation, now it begin important in local development. Research on the formation and development of the artistic value of Yungang grottoes will help us to understand the relationship among art, politics and economy of the grottoes of Yungang.