A Study Of Sinicization Of Makara Pattern

The Makara pattern originated from India,and it has gradually incorporated into the Indian Buddhist system with a long history.According to the Indian Buddhist scriptures,Makara is a beast with powerful strength,and it used to raise winds and waves in the ocean,but it deterred by the Dharma.The Makara pattern has a sea beast shape which contains two meanings;one displays the one or several abilities of the Makara,other one praises the Dharma that could deter the Makara beast by his great power.The Makara pattern has come to China and it has been Sinicized with the spread of Buddhism in China.The process of the Sinicization could be divided into five periods,including the initial period between the Northern Wei Dynasty to the Sui Dynasty,the early changing period in the early Tang Dynasty,the turning period between middle Tang Dynasty,late Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasty,the boom period during the Song,Liao,and Jin Dynasty,the deterioration period during the Yuan,Ming,and Qing Dynasty.The shape and meaning of the Makara pattern in China were the same as the original one in India during the initial period and early changing period.In these two periods,the using of the Makara pattern in China was limited from a few aspects;low quantity produced,less carrier,and fewer regions of using.The user group was only nobles and royalty.When the Makara pattern developed to the turning period,carp-shaped and ichthyosaur-shaped Makara patterns with a strong Sinicization tendency began to appear and occupied the mainstream of the development of Makara patterns.In terms of shape and meaning,the carp-shaped Makara pattern is influenced by Chinese fish culture and the ichthyosaur-shaped.Makara pattern is influenced by both Chinese fish culture and dragon culture.The Makara beast turned to be an auspicious beast from an evil beast since this period.At this time,the Makara pattern also developed greatly in terms of quantity,carrier,and distribution area.The user groups expanded from royalty and nobility to folk.After the Sinicization of turning period,the Makara pattern has entered the boom period of its Sinicization,and the ichthyosaur-shaped Makara pattern has become the mainstream.The shape and meaning of the ichthyosaur-shaped Makarapattern had further influenced by Chinese dragon culture,it tends to be more dragon-shaped and auspicious.During the boom period,the Makara pattern has been developed unprecedentness in terms of quantity,carrier,and distribution area,and the user group covers the royal,noble,and folk classes.Subsequently,the Makara pattern entered a period of deterioration.At this period,the Makara pattern was more strongly influenced by the Chinese dragon culture while its Buddhist features were weakened,and it gradually becoming a marginal auspicious ornament in the secular world.At this time,the quantity,the carriers,and the distribution area of the Makara pattern had greatly shrunken.The user groups include both nobles and civilians.During the Qing Dynasty,the Makara pattern was completely instead by the dragon pattern.There are two main reasons for the Sinicization of the Makara Pattern: First,the Chinese fish culture and dragon culture are the external causes of the Sinicization of the Makara Pattern,they have influenced the Makara Pattern from an exotic pattern to be a Sinicized pattern;second,the Buddhist Bodhisattva Thought is the internal cause of Sinicization of the Makara pattern,and it actively promotes the combination of Buddhist pattern and Chinese culture.The enlightenment of the Sinicization of the Makara Pattern on the development of Han Buddhism has three points: First,it is based on the Bodhisattva;second,it persists in localization;and third,it follows the changing of times.