The Comparative Research Of Buddhism Statues And Vows Between Suitang And MingQing In The Yangtze River Basin

In Sui-Tang and Ming-Qing periods, the Yangtze River basin was underinfluence of diverse political environment, religious policies and cultural backgrounds,which resulted in the variation of the popular Buddha statues and Buddha vows.Taking Buddha statues and Buddha vows of Sui-Tang and Ming-Qing periods asthe studying object, with literature data, contrast analysis and other methods incombination of relevant documentation, this thesis thoroughly compared the differentcharacteristics of Buddha statues and Buddha vows in content and formality anddiscussed the variations of Buddhists’religious psychology in Sui-Tang andMing-Qing periods.In Sui-Tang and Ming-Qing periods, the variations in the subject of vows, statuesand appeals of the Yangtze River basin were most evident. The former wascharacterized by individual vows, various images, appeals for good wishes concernedthe ruler and personal secular matters; the latter featured a bigger ratio of groupfamily images and inclined to secular utilitarian appeals, which was related to theclimate complications and harsh surviving environment in Ming-Qing times as peopleof the lowest class tended to be self-conscious.Outwardly, the appeals of Sui-Tang period varied from praying for the emperor’shealth and national prosperity to blessings upon all creatures, and the Ming-Qingperiod paid more attention to self-development. Essentially, both wereinterest-concerned and utilitarian, which was consistent in Buddhists’ religiouspsychology from Sui&Tang to Ming&Qing.