A Study On Jingchuan's LOhan Cave

Jingchuan,as the first stop starting from Chang'an and the last stop going back from the Western Regions to the Central Plains in Silk Road,links the Central Plains and the Western Regions.Because of its special geographical location,it becomes the important areas for Buddhism introduced into the Central Plains.Lohan Cave is an important part of Jingchuan's hundrends of kilometers Grottoes,which was built from the Northern Wei Dynasty and gone through Sui,Tang,Song and Qing dynasties.There are very few Buddha statues in the Lohan Cave,and most of the caves are empty.It is a grotto for the monks living and practicing,which is different from the Jingchuan Wangmu Palace Grottoes and the South Grottoes.By the study of the mural content,characters and clothing styles,Lohan Cave reflects the complex ethnic integration at Jingchuan area at that time.Mural painting techniques were influence by the western and Central Plains.The production of mural and wall sculpture has obvious wall carving sculpture style of Song Dynasty,like the King sculpture,in the use of color and lines,are influenced by the social atmosphere of the Song Dynasty.Although it has been severely damaged,the Buddha carving,mural and wall sculpture have a very high value of art appreciation and records the history of the development of Buddhist art,which help us study all kinds of Buddhist art styles.In addition,Lohan cave is an important part in the study of the religious belief system of Jingchuan at that time.