A Study Of The Images Of Tirthika In The Buddhist Art

Tirthika used in Buddhist sources is a general term referring to adherents of non-Buddhist philosophies and religions.The images of tirthika are usually parts of the art representing episodes of the Buddha's life and teachings,such as Conversion of three ascetic Kasyapa brothers,the Miracle at Sravasti,Parinirvana art,Sumati's story,Contest between Sariputra and Raudraksa,transformation scene of the Baoen-sutra and so on.Although 96 types of Tirthika are recorded in the Buddhist sutras,only several kinds of tirthikas are depicted in the Buddhist art.We can ascertain devotees of the fire god Agni,Jains,the six heretical masters and Mrgasirsa.In addition,other tirthikas' names and factions are not clear.The images of tirthika date back at least to the 1st century A.D.on the Sanchi Stupa 1,but only devotees of the fire were carved.By contrast,we can see several kinds of tirthika in the Gandhara Art.The Indian art and the Gandhara art also spread northward towards Central Asia,strongly affecting the arts of China.The images of tirthika can be found in Kizil Grottoes,Dunhuang Grottoes,Yungang Grottoes and so on.In Song Dynasty,the tirthikas mainly emerged in the Parinirvana art and the transformation scene of the Baoen-sutra.In Ming and Qing dynasties,the tirthikas were usually in the scenes of the life of Buddha.Tirthika's images changed in different eras and different regions.In Indian art and the Gandhara Art,the realistic scriptures of tirthika were common.For example,the art in Gandhara factually described the Jains' body.The images of tirthika gradually adapted to the Chinese aesthetic standards.Most of the images of tirthika were similar to the Brahmans before the Song dynasty.The number of Tirthika declined from the Song dynasty.As the process of the sinicization of Buddhist art,the tirthika became more and more alike the Hans.In Ming Dynasty,the tirthika was represented by the populace or the hermit who worn straw rain cape or skirt made by leaves.The transformation result from the decline of communication between China and India.Meanwhile,the popularity of literati paintings might promote the transformation.The Tirthika in the art reflect the cultural exchange.For instance,the story about asking whether the bird were alive or dead was spread in Greek,India,China and Japan.The plot of the story was enriched in Song Dynasty and then introduced to Japan.The difference was that the hero was changed to Ikkyu(??).The stories of matching magical powers were painted in the mural of Contest between Sariputra and Raudraksa.The tirthika in the Buddhist plays a role in exhibiting story plot and propagate expressing the theme.The tirthika was also painted or carved as teaching tools to inform Buddhist beliefs.The story of Sumati propagandized for cracking down upon the tirthikas.In China the spread of the image of Mrgasirsa Brahmacarin maybe connected to the preach of Five Precepts and ten wholesome actions.In the transformation tableaux of Subjugation,the tirthikas were the prolocutor of the Confucianists and Taoist priests who opposed Buddhism.