The Longman Buddha in China - Essay Example

The Longman Buddha in China Introduction The Warring s Period The Spring and Autumn period of ancient Chinese history that lasted during 770-476B.C. was followed by the Warring States period during 475-221 B.C. when the Chou Dynasty was in power. Warring States period was an era of chaos and violence when Sun-Tzu, the philosopher is believed to have lived and culture flourished in China. The seven states that existed in China during the Warring States period were Ch’I, Ch’n, Ch’u, Han, Wei, Chao and Yen, though Yen one was not a contending state. The Ch’in is said to have overthrown the Ch’u to establish the first united state of China. The Warring States period is also called Contending states. Buddhism started to spread toChina during this period.1 The state of Qin emerged victorious though it was not considered as a fully Chinese state. Technological advancement in military gave an edge for the larger states over the smaller states in terms of resources to acquire an advantage during war. The advancement in military technology was specially in the case of providing arms for foot soldiers unlike the use of chariots by aristocrats in war during the previous eras. States with economic resources used this method of warfare and smaller states consolidated into larger ones to gain superiority over other states. The Warring States period is synonymous with endless brutality since there was extreme friction between the seven warring states and this period could come to an end only with the consolidation of all the states into an empire. 2 --------------------- ------ 1. Warring States Available: http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/chin1/g/WarringStates.htm 2.The Warring States Period of Ancient China 480 BCE to 221 BCE Available: http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/warringstates.htm The ‘One China’ policy is propaganda of this period. Another reason for the intensity of war was the high intellectual ferment during the period. The brutality of the war was more due to the greed of every state to conquer and acquire other states. Finally the Qin was able to conquer other states by 221 BCE and then form the Empire of Qin or Chia that laster only till 207 BCE. The Qin empire was taken over by the Han empire. 3 Wei Dynasty and the Longman Buddha caves The Northern Wei was found by the Tuoba tribe of the Xianbei descent, who unified the northern part of China in 439 BCE. The religious and cultural policies of the Wie dynasty has played a key role in forming the cultural and social conditions that was favourable for strengthening the traditional exchange between Buddhists and indigenous Chinese people and the various social and ethnic groups. The practice of Chinese style bureaucracy and administration supported the rehabilitation of agriculture and rural life consequent to the warfare and also led to the state sponsorship of Buddhism that helped the quick penetration of the religion into the northern parts of China. Lay Buddhists formed voluntary associations and associated with regional temples and raised several Buddhist steles that portrayed the social, territorial and religious identity of the religion. The foundation of Buddhist stele can be related to two momentous happening in the last twenty years of the fifth century: the first use of Chinese tablets for Buddhist purpose and the surfacing of Buddhist religious societies. 4 ------------- 3.The Warring States Period of Ancient China 480 BCE to 221 BCE Available: http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/warringstates.htm 4. Dorothy C. Wong. Chinese Steles: Pre-Buddhist and Buddhist Use of a Symbolic Form Hawai: University of Hawaii Press, 2004 p.43. This is evident in the Buddhist cave temple locations of Northern Wei at Longmen and Yungang. During the sixth century, Buddhist associations chiefly sponsored the construction of Buddhist steles. It may be said that Buddhism had its beginning and the religion flourished in China during the reign of the Northern Wei dynasty.5 Han vs Wie dynasty It was during the Han dynasty that Buddhism was first introduced to China. Han Dynasty was strictly Confucian and was not friendly to the Buddhist religion. However, Buddhism had a similarity with the indigenous religion called Taoism. The Han Dynasty had very little followers of Buddhism.6 Though the Han dynasty welcomed Buddhism, it was an isolated religion during the Han regime. After the fall of the Han dynasty, there was rapid conversion to Buddhism in China with the dominance of the Mahayana school.7 The members of aristocratic and royal family were the first to convert to Buddhism and the religion was studied as a single subject in the Three Kingdom period. Luoyan in the northern part of China was a major centre of Buddhist activities with the translation of Buddhist scriptures from India. 8 ------------------------------------------ 5. Dorothy C. Wong. Chinese Steles: Pre-Buddhist and Buddhist Use of a Symbolic Form Hawai: University of Hawaii Press, 2004 p.43. 6.Barbara OBrien. Buddhism in China: The First Thousand Years A Condensed History of Buddhism in China, 1-1000 CE Available: http://buddhism.about.com/od/throughasiaandbeyond/a/chinahistory.htm 7. The Qin and Han Dynasties. Confucianism, Buddhism, Three Kingdoms and the Western Jin Dynasty Available: http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch14.htm 8. Han Buddhism Available: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/religion/buddhism/han.htm Thesis statement The Longmen Caves in China was constructed by the Northern Wei dynasty and subsequently by Tang dynasty by adopting contemporary style and themes and to suit to the requirements of the emperors who constructed the carvings over a period of time. The carvings were made in caves to follow the teaching method of Sakyamuni who taught his students in caves. Longman caves The Longmen caves comprise grandiose caves with intricate designs of Buddha that stands testimony to the skill of craftsmen and the wealth and devotion of people who lived in Luoyang. The sculpture of Buddha has been carved out of caves to commemorate the method followed by Sakyamuni who taught from caves. The carving of Buddha in caves was followed in India from where Buddhism originated and spread to the rest of Asia. The caves are called Longmen (Dragon Gate) since the caves are located between two mountains and the cave looks like a gate. There are 2,840 inscribed tablets, 2,345 niches, 1,00,000 stone statues and 60 pagodas in the Longmen caves. These caves that depict Buddha were developed during two periods.9 ------------------ 9. Longmen Caves Available: http://www.chinaholidays.com/guide/cityend.php?ar_id=390 The first development took place during the Northern Wei dynasty to express their devotion. However, the masterpiece caves were carved during the Tang dynasty with emotional and lively sculptures that resemble commoners which is usually unseen in the divine sculptures of Buddha. The Fengxian Temple holds the Losana Buddha which is more than 17 m tall with 2m long ears and 4m long head. The sponsorship from royal families was the main reason for the construction of Longmen caves. Though commoners and foreigners also contributed towards the carving, the emperor had the sole authority to use the financial resources and extensive work force to substantiate this massive project. Therefore the caves were constructed as a tribute to the ancestors and also to exhibit the vanity of the dynasty since the caves depicted grandeur. It was an opportunity for the emperors to showcase themselves as living Gods and the cave was used to gain the obedience of public and self impose divinity. Therefore the statue of Buddha in Longmen caves had faces resembling the royals with elegant and detailed garments and lithe bodies. 10 --------------------- 10. Longmen Caves Available: http://www.chinaholidays.com/guide/cityend.php?ar_id=390 The statues of Buddha in Longmen caves have influences from India and are carved as a fusion of Indian and Chinese style. The statues constructed by the Northern Wei dynasty have portrayed Buddha with wide belts and spacious clothes with a slim body and mild expression while those carved by Tang dynasty are relatively plump and hold a visually plentiful expression.11 The Longmen Buddha is different from the statue of reclining Buddha in several ways. The reclining Buddha is a small ornamented statue portrayed as a state when he achieves Nirvana and attains enlightenment. In this statue the Buddha is lying down in a couch with closed eyes and bare foot. The statue is painted in red, brown, black and flesh colors indicating the sophistication of art over time. The statue is accompanied by the statue of a smaller man depicting the Tangut funeral where it is common to see musicians and dancers among the mourners. This statue is a tribute to the emperors of the Song Dynasty. The Reclining Buddha is an advanced version of Buddha’s statues with better portrayal that indicates the better understanding Chinese people had about Buddha and the sophisticated representation of art. 12 When compared to Sakyamuni Buddha, the Longmen Buddha has deviated from the basic form in hand and body gesture and attire. The statue of Sakhyamuni Buddha is youthful and stocky with ushnisha in the head and the cross legged position and his robes are loose and monastic like the Roman toga. The statue also personifies civilization and harmony. 13 ------------------------------- 11. Longmen Caves Available: http://www.chinaholidays.com/guide/cityend.php?ar_id=390 12.Reclining Buddha Available: http://www.marymount.k12.ny.us/marynet/stwbwk02/IXvm02/vmbuddhas/ad2.html 13. Sakyamuni Buddha Available: http://www.marymount.k12.ny.us/marynet/stwbwk02/IXvm02/vmbuddhas/bd2.html However, the Longmen Buddha has adopted a Chinese face, simple wedged nose, rectilinear folds and Chinese eyes reflecting cultural influences in the art. The Sakyamuni Buddha is sculpted with undefined body shape hidden under the drapes of robes with no distinct features for the face. The Chinese version of Buddha has mistakes in the mudras that represent fulfillment of vows, knowledge and concentration, due to their poor understanding of the posture.14 Conclusion It may be concluded that the statue of Buddha in Longmen caves are carved to depict the teachings of Sakhyamuni. The conflicting state of Buddha in Longmen caves is due to cultural and contemporary influence of the dynasties that constructed the sculpture. The Buddha in Longmen caves wear a commoners look and has deviated from the basic forms to depict the faces of emperors and empress who offered financial resources to construct them and also to portray the divinity of the people who ruled the dynasty. Therefore, the Longmen Buddha is an outcome of cultural influence and sophisticated that has been carved to portray the God in a contemporary setting in China and hence the difference in sculpture. ----------------- 14. Sakyamuni Buddha Available: http://www.marymount.k12.ny.us/marynet/stwbwk02/IXvm02/vmbuddhas/bd2.html Bibliography Han Buddhism Available: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/religion/buddhism/han.htm. Accessed on March 11, 2009 Longmen Caves Available: http://www.chinaholidays.com/guide/cityend.php?ar_id=390. Accessed on March 11, 2009 OBrien, Barbara. Buddhism in China: The First Thousand Years A Condensed History of Buddhism in China, 1-1000 CE Available: http://buddhism.about.com/od/throughasiaandbeyond/a/chinahistory.htm. Accessed on March 11, 2009 Reclining Buddha Available: http://www.marymount.k12.ny.us/marynet/stwbwk02/IXvm02/vmbuddhas/ad2.html. Accessed on March 11, 2009 Sakyamuni Buddha Available: http://www.marymount.k12.ny.us/marynet/stwbwk02/IXvm02/vmbuddhas/bd2.html. Accessed on March 11, 2009 The Qin and Han Dynasties. Confucianism, Buddhism, Three Kingdoms and the Western Jin Dynasty Available: http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch14.htm. Accessed on March 11, 2009 The Warring States Period of Ancient China 480 BCE to 221 BCE Available: http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/warringstates.htm. Accessed on March 11, 2009 Warring States Available: http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/chin1/g/WarringStates.htm. Accessed on March 11, 2009 Wong, Dorothy C. Chinese Steles: Pre-Buddhist and Buddhist Use of a Symbolic Form Hawai: University of Hawaii Press, 2004 p.43. Read More