| The Dunhuang Grottoes are all-encompassing and rich in content.Among them,animal images are rich in types and forms,and they have different characteristics in different eras.The animal images in Dunhuang Grottoes can be divided into viviparous animal images,oviparous animal images and mysterious animal images.Each type of animal images has several typical representatives.The animal images in the Dunhuang Grottoes have different functional characteristics,either as symbol,reality,auspiciousness,etc.Even if the same animal is expressed in different story paintings or grottoes,the meaning is different.There are many reasons for its different meanings,the most important of which is the change of the times.The characteristics of animal images in different times also explain the evolution of social life and Buddhist thought at that time.From the vertical timeline,animal images account for less and less in story paintings,and more and more in decorative paintings.This shows that the later the time,the stronger the decoration of animal images.From the horizontal space axis,the four representative regions along the Silk Road have rich and diverse animal images.Animal images in Ancient India,Xinjiang,Dunhuang,and the Central Plains have their own characteristics.Their styles,techniques,and contents are quite different.The main reasons for the differences are the differences in regions,times,themes and ideas.This shows that after Buddhism was introduced to China,it continued to integrate with the Central Plains tradition culture. |
