Study On The "Old Man Entering The Tomb" Image Of Dunhuang Caves

The old man entering the tomb image was a part of Maitreya Sutra Transformation Painting in Dunhuang Grottoes.Its speacial funeral style raised lots of concerns in Dunhuang academic circles.Then it becomes distintive image data on study of Dunhuang folk custom.Owing to the limited of material and study angle,its related research was limited,too.This paper makes a basic overview of the relevant contents of the “old man entering the tomb” image of Dunhuang Caves Maitreya Sutra Transformation tableau painting,and then discuss the source issue of Dunhuang folk custom.On the basis of previous studies,the image of the historical and cultural connotation as the breakthrough point,through the study of the “old man entering the tomb” image of Dunhuang Caves Maitreya Sutra Transformation tableau painting to do a comprehensive system,The reason why it can appear in the Dunhuang Caves,Because of the image into a new Confucian and Buddhist ideas of filial piety;Buddhism will China ancient "flesh not bad" concept into the“old man entering the tomb” image,Maitreya Buddha belief In this way to achieve the purpose of Pureland;The old man dressed in white clothes into the tomb is associated with the white Maitreya belief.In addition,The Yulin cave 25 "old man entering the tomb" image and the marriage picture as a whole,Comparative analysis of the characters,and it is found that the painters in the Tang Dynasty are not satisfied with the rule of Tubo and the policy of national assimilation.at the same time,The position change of “old man entering the tomb” image and the marriage picture in Maitreya Sutra Transformation tableau painting of Dunhuang Caves have an important significance for the Age determination of Dunhuang Caves.