Investigation And Research On Buddhist Statue Monuments In Yuncheng Area During The Northern Dynasties

The Wei,Jin and North and South Dynasties periods were the first period of Buddhist development and prosperity in China.This period was also a prosperous period for Buddhism in the Yuncheng area.As a result,many Buddhist statue monuments appeared in the Yuncheng area during the Northern Dynasties,so the prosperity of Buddhism in the Yuncheng area could be shown by Buddhist statue monuments.The paper takes the Buddhist statue monuments in Yuncheng area during the Northern Dynasties as the object of study in order to understand the development of Buddhism in Yuncheng area during the Northern Dynasties.Firstly,the Buddhist statue monuments in Yuncheng area during the Northern Dynasties were collected and sorted out,and then the background and reasons for the appearance of Buddhist statue monuments were analyzed.It was found out that there was a great connection between the appearance of statue monuments and the development of Buddhism in Yuncheng area,the flourishing of Buddhist statue-making activities and the development of traditional Chinese stone monuments and portrait stones.Secondly,the Buddhist statue monuments of the Northern Dynasties in the Yuncheng area were compiled and studied,moreover,the characteristics of Buddhist statue monuments of the Northern Dynasties in the Yuncheng area in terms of niche shape,niche layout and statue subject matter were summarized,in this regard,the reasons for the appearance of the characteristics and the statue subject matter of Buddhist statue monuments were analyzed accordingly.Thirdly,the inscriptions on Buddhist statue monuments from the Northern Dynasties in Yuncheng were again examined.Ob such basis,it was found that Buddhist eupsha emerged in Yuncheng during the Northern Dynasties and that Buddhist eupsha in Yuncheng developed from traditional Chinese private societies whose members were monks,commoners and officials.The study of the positions of Buddhist eups in the Northern Dynasties period in Yuncheng revealed that the positions in Buddhist eups were derived from the monastic official system and secular official positions,and that political factors were reflected in Buddhist eups.Finally,the content of the beliefs of the people in Yuncheng area during the Northern Dynasties was explored by centering on the inscriptions on Buddhist statue monuments in the area.The beliefs of Sakyamuni,Maitreya,Fahua,and some other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas appeared.By analyzing and studying the vow texts on the Buddhist statue records,the religious needs of the people in Yuncheng area were known,furthermore,the people’s belief in Buddhism in Yuncheng area during the Northern Dynasties showed the characteristics of randomness and utilitarianism.