Research Of The Qianfoya Buddhist Statues In Jinan Shentong Temple

The Shentong temple in Jinan City Licheng district Liubu town is a earliest constructived Buddhist temple in Shandong Province,the temple was built in A.D.351。There have two hundred and ten Tang dynasty Buddhist statues in Baihu piedmont of Shentong temple,although have past more than one thousand years,but preserverd well,also have fine style,is one important early Tang dynasty Buddhist statues,with higer history value and art value.The niche of Qianfoya statues can be devided into four styles,Circular arch statue niche、Square statue niche、Pointed arch statue niche、Turriform statue niche,the style of statues can be devided into three type,Knot JiaFu sitting Buddha、Seat Buddha、Bodhisattva,they can be devided into more types in accordance with different attire.On the basis of statue style,combine preface statues and historical background,in accordance with different statue style,the Qianfoya statues can be devided into four periods.One formative period of early Tang dynasty style statues.The statue inherited double led droop type cassock of Sui Dynasty,the cassock hanging in the pedestal formed suspension type,there have upturned eight pattern lines of the clothes in the cassock.The size of statues begin heighten,the build become more mellow and full.Two maturation period of early Tang dynasty style statues.The face of the statues is Long-round,the proportion of the five senses is well-proportioned,all of the statues have Circular lotus pattern head light Pointed peach shape nape light,but the lines of the closes become parallel to the vertical type,the depict to the lines of the closes is realistic and natural.Three degenerate period of early Tang dynasty style statues.The face of the statues become chubby,the lines of the closes become simplified,the posture is rigid.Four period of the middle and late Tang Dynasty style statu.The size of the statues become trail off obviously,the neck almost invisible,the body become flat,the overall style have large difference compared to the statues of the early Tang Dynasty.The Qianfoya statues have abundant theme,but there only have oneAmitabba buddha in statue preface.By judge of statues theme,we can find that there have eight statues theme in Qianfoya satue,Amitaba Buddha statue、seat Buddha statue、two Buddhas seat together style statue 、bhaisajya buddha statue、thirty-five Buddhas statue、 shakyamuni statue、Bodhisattva statue、lux statue.Amitaba Buddha 、Maitreya Buddha and two Buddhas seat together style statue account for a large proportion,that is related with themsefs feature and history background.In addition,it is also worth noting that,there emerge thirty-five Buddhas and bhaisajya buddha two kind new theme,compared to statues of before Tang dynasty in Jinan,with special meaning.we can find three conviction characteristic of Qianfoya statues by analyze statues theme and statues preface: One the universality of conviction stratum,people who make statue include three stratum,they are magnates and buddhists and common people;Two the utilitarian of conviction,statue with great utilitarian regardless of any purpose;Three the conviction of Pure Land is mainstream,include Pure Land of Amitaba Buddha、Pure Land of Maitreya Buddha、Pure Land of bhaisajya buddha.The statues of Qianfoya have fine style,distinct feature,as well many common ground.We can find that the statue of Qianfoya was closely related with the statues of Jinan local and the centre of Luoyang,by the research of the statues of Jinan and around Jinan.Square statue niche and Turriform statue niche inherited the statue characteristic of Jinan local.Circular arch statue niche、Pointed arch statue niche、Lux statue、Circular lotus pattern head light Pointed peach shape nape light were influenced by Luoyang statue centre.