A Study On The Images Of Nirvana:from 5th To 8th Centuries

Nirvana image originated in early India shadow wall art. Nirvana as an important part of Buddha, Buddhist circles attach great importance to images associated with Nirvana on thriving in the period of Gandhara.Nirvana graphic arts of China, while absorbing the earlier India and Central Asia style, on the other hand to Mahayana Buddhist texts as the basis for creation. With the development and spread of Mahayana Buddhism in China, Nirvana special historical conditions in China under the background of the image, a unique innovation.Five to Eighth Century golden era of the development of Chinese Buddhist Mahayana, Nirvana image development is the strongest evidence.Extant image of Nirvana and portfolio analysis, the emergence of Mahayana bodhisattva image elements, the master status of the prominent aspects of, this is a clear difference with small image of nirvana.During the Sui and Tang dynasties are often associated with other Mahayana Nirvana image image composition, and Fahua, Kegon, pure land, such as combination most closely, this reflects the unique five-Eighth Century China Nirvana image development and evolution.Chinese Mahayana Nirvana images-there are many reasons, based on the influence of Chinese Buddhist Mahayana thought, Nirvana, thinking can be seen as a main reason.Starting from the southern and Northern Dynasties period, Nirvana has caused people in the Buddhist community of interest, the workshop continued.A large number of Sanskrit Nirvana Sutra was translated, on this basis, commentaries and treatises also emerged.And communicates with the nirvana of Buddha-nature’s Fahua, Kegon and other Mahayana thought, they also understood by the Buddhist monks.Inherited from the southern and Northern dynasties, sui and early Tang dynasties many Nirvana images, these images not only exists in the cave temple, there are also placed on a single statue stele, different carriers, but they convey the meaning and idea.Change of carrier for the Mahayana Nirvana image provides important conditions.Looking at five-Eighth Century China’s image of Nirvana, can be understood as in the Mahayana doctrine and meditation under the influence of the formation of distinct images.Five to Eight Century China’s image of Nirvana not only broke the traditional forms of images, but also on the content has been developed, with important research value.