The Longxing History Cache Of Buddhist Statues

This paper is divided into five chapters.Chapter Ⅰ: Research on Qingzhou Buddhism Historical background and political standing.The chapter is a study on Qingzhou Buddhism historical background and political standing. As for Qingzhou Buddhism historical background, one reveals spreading and ups and downs of Buddhism in Qingzhou—Two Jin Dynasties Sixteen States Liu Song Era are in the periods of original spreading and developing Buddhism;Northern Wei Northern Qi Dynasties are in the periods of rapid and great prosperity;Sui and Tang Dynasties are in the second period of great prosperity;Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing Dynasties are in the period of feeble and decaying. The other inspects situation on Qingzhou ancient Buddhist temples and Buddhist monks, and specially introduction on the important Buddhist temples and Buddhist monks. As for political standing of Qingzhou, it will be analysed in macro and micro points of view. From macro points of view, Qingzhou became political center of Shandong province replacing Linzi since West Jin Dynasty Yongjia Five Years (311 A.D) till it was replaced by Jinan in Ming Dynasty Hongwu Nine Years (1376 A.D). it has been political center of Shandong province for over one thousand years, with splendid historic civilization and powerful political position. From micro points of view, during Northern Qi Dynasty Longxing Temple sculptures were growing vigorously. Qingzhou was one of birthplaces of Gao qi State, and was the third big city of Northern Qi Dynasty.Chapter Ⅱ: Historical Research on Longxing Temple.The chapter is the inquiries on historic evolution of Longxing Temple and research on Longxing Temple's geographical relation with Qingzhou city. Through sorting out the Longxing Temple historical materials, it furnishes the most comprehensive and detailed declaration. Longxing Temple has been around one thousand year history from establishing Longxing Temple during South Dynasty Liu song Yuan jia two Year (425 A.D) to rebuilding chenghuang Temple during Ming Dynasty Hong wu one year (1368 A.D), experiencing Northern Wei, East Wei, Northern Qi, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, North Song, Jin, Yuan Dynasties. The foundation of Longxing Temple was composed of three parts Buddhism Temple, Liu Shan Ming dwelling house and Qiji Temple in the beginning of from Liu Song Dynasty Taishi Two Years (466 A.D) to Northern Wei Huangxing Four Years (470 A.D). In the periods of Northern Wei, East Wei Dynasty, Longxing Temple was developing greatly called "Zheng Dong Zhi jia Temple" (The First Temple of East China), Northern Qi Dynasty was at the height of power and splendors. In the Tang Dynasty, the Longxing Temple was its second brilliant period with huge scale and glorious building. In the Five Dynasties, North Song Dynasty, it followed pleasant impression of Tang Dynasty, still was a famous temple at that time. During the end of Song Dynasty and the beginning of Jin Dynasty, because of war ridden years, the temple failed into decay with each passing day. At the end of Yuan Dynasty,it was destroyed caused by war, and at the beginning of Ming Dynasty, the remainer part of the temple was rebuilt Chenghuang Temple. It's necessary to explain specially that the important facts on some members from Cui Family which were high officials and noble lords ever attended the statue activities of Longxing Temple in Northern Dynasty werediscovered;The deeds of one fluenced monk in the Longxing Temple historically were investigated;The Longxing Temple was the chief place that Qingzhou officials of successive dynasties and Buddhism believers were engaged in Buddhism activities. Longxing Temple was always located in the south outer wall of Qingzhou city for 500 years from its establishment in Liu song Era to the end of Tang and Five Dynasties. From HouTang Dynasty (934-936 A.D) to the end of Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of Ming Dynasty the temple being destroyed, the temple was inner Qingzhou city along with south outer wall rised Qingzhou south city, it had a changing experience from outer city to inner city.Chapter III: Research on Subjects of Longxing Temple Hoard Statues.The chapter takes limited statues inscription from Longxing Temple for point of contact, and combines the image characteristic of these Buddhist statues, referring the evolution and development of Buddhist statue subjects around Qingzhou Shandong province as well as north China, probing carefully the statue subjects of Longxing Temple. From inscription and characteristic of plastic device, the subjects are Maitreya, Sakyamuni, Avalokitesvara, Sakyasimha, Rocana Dharma-dhatu images Bodhisattva in meditation. The subjects available are Amitabha, Rocana. standing Maitrega with seven Buddhas on Mandorla and so on.The Buddhas usually seen in North China in Midlate period of Northern Dynasty are not found among the Longxing Temple Buddha Statues. Maitreya with crossing feet, Sakyamuni, Bodhisattva in meditations are also limited subjects. Generally speaking, The backing Mandorla style images of a Buddha and two Bodhisattvas mainly carved Maitreya, Sakyamuni, Amitabha is a major characteristic of Longxing Temple statues subjects in Northern Wei, East Wei Dynasties, among which Maitreya is the main subject. In Northern Qi Dynasty, the subject of Longxing Temple changed greatly, popular single standing Rocana appeared another characteristic of these statues. Rocana Dharma-dhatu images are the most absorbing ones among Longxing Temple subjects because of their relative quantities, well preserved colour. Avalokitesvara takes the key place of Bodhisattva subjects.Chapter Four: Research on Typical Artistic Characteristic of Hoard Statues from Longxing Temple.The chapter is deep analyses on typical artistic characteristic of hoard statues from Longxing Temple.The type of sculptures that are most typical of Longxing Temple, which has attained the highest artistic achievements, are those steles with dragon, pagota. Apsaras and auspicious lotus carved on the mandoras. On the mandoras carved Apsaras and pagota, under the main figure and attendants. Bodhisattva are caved double dragons, dragon mouths spitting water column supporting two delicate lotus pedestals. Dragon pagota are the most distinctive styles of Longxing Temple statues Take the artistic effects as examples, the dragon body is strong and powerful, pagota is carved high in relief, the plastic arts is vivid to life, the layout is combined quietness with movement, showing the artistic charm of three limestone figures. According to the documents stated, dragon pagota were regarded as inverted dragon, Buddhist pagota;and the chapter also inquires into the reasons and forms that a large number of dragons and pagodas were carved on the limestone figures;Makes the focal points the origin on inverted the artistic images of dragon, Buddhist pagota, and thinks they are from bronze statues in ancient Qingzhou. The inverted dragon, Buddhist pagota images were popular in the Northern Wei, East Wei Dynasty, in Northern Qi Dynasty, A great quantities of single round—carved statuesappeared, the three limestone statues reduced abruptly, dragon, Buddhist pagota was also on the wane, In the Tang Dynasty, pagodas were only seen on few three limestone figures.Chapter Five: Textual Research on Several problems of Longxing Temple Hoard Statues.The chapter inquires into five key problems on researching Longxing Temple statues which are: the nature of hoard statues should be buried statues.not all the statues of hoard are from Longxing Temple.the applied gold colour on the statues is not all carried out in Northern Dynasty,Buddhism statues art in Northern Qi Dynasty shall be spreaded from overseas China by the sea,re-recognixing on the reason of broken statues. Through compartive analysis on the buried Buddhist statues from Shandong Linqu MingDao Templejinan KaiYuan Temple and Anhui Bo county Xian Ping Temple,it puts forward a point of view.that Buddhist statues from Longxing Temple have the same nature as theirs;Take documents materials and examples three aspects for evidences,to explain Over 400 Buddhist statues unearthed the hoard are not all from Longxing Temple,some are from other temples;Epigraphical documents fully proverbs activities of fresh applied make up on ancient Buddhism statues were popular in North Song Dynasty,it is also an important benefaction as the same as newly-carved starue.The applied gold colour on Buddhist statues from Longxing Temple are not all done at the beginning of Northern Dynasty by logical inference.Some Buddhist statues from Longxing Temple were applied gold colour by later generations by material analysis.Therefore,the stone statues with applied gold and colour painting are not all done in Northern Dynasty,It's warrant careful consideration that fresh make-up statues are well preserved on the applied gold and colour painting.The objective fact is ignored by researchers when they appraised technique on applied gold and colour painting of statues from Longxing Temple at that time;The Buddhist statues from Longxing Temple in Northern Qi Dynasty keep a large number of Indian art Buddha,which were propagated from overseas China directly.Through historical material unearthedjit's possible that the spreading way is from the sea to Qingzhou;For the reason of destroyed statues from Longxing Temple,there are three ideas in academic circles that are:Emperor Zhou Wu's extermination law of Buddhism,Emperor Songhui worshiped Taism and abolished Buddhism and Buddhist statues were destroyed by war.A host of facts give eloquent proof these statues were damaged many times in different period not only once.The problem should be analysed particularly.There are artificial and natural that caused the Buddhist statues to be destroyed , Which resulted in four reasons Emperor Zhou Wu's movement of extermination of Buddhism, Emperor Songhui worshiping Taoism and abolishing Buddhism, war as well as earthquake.