불탑에서 불상으로-중국 초기불상과 전통의 형성

Abstract

This thesis is a study on the point of view to the buddha statues in the period of Northern and Southern dynasties in China. The stupa was a core of temple in India. According to the literary documents, the first stupa were 8 units. But the 7 of these were diffused to 84 thousand stupas at the King Asoka's reign. It means that most of all stupas in India contain the real Sakyamuni relics. But at the period of Northern and Southern dynasties in China, it was almost impossible to acquire the buddha's real relics for build a stupa. So this situation had mad a legend as written in Jí-shénzhōu-sānbăo-găntōng-lù (集神州三寶感通錄) that some stupas which had been built by Asoka belongs to Chinese territory, and it was believe that some peoples accidently dug out the real buddha's relics. But some legend as like this had met a critical situation to build a numerous stupas. The solution was to present a new idea that the stupa can be built by not only a real relics, but also by a alternative sacred one. This idea derive from Mahabodhī temple in Bodhgaya which resembles east asian pagoda's multi-stories wooden structure. This Mahabodhī temple did not contains a real relics but the image of enlightened buddha was enshrined in it. Many chinese pilgrims visited there and be inspired a new conception. It may lead to Dàyàntă(大雁塔) of Cíēnsì(慈恩寺) at Xian(西安) which might be designed by Xuánzàng (玄奘). In the mean time, Chinese buddhist invented a new conception which can substitute a relics. It was very different and easier item in comparison with relics. This was the Buddha statue. Even there was also a conception of buddha statues in India, it was worshipe by relics enshrined in the statues but not by the statue's miracle itself. But the chinese buddha statues need to get a authenticity as much as relics in stupa. So a variated legend of Asoka' stupa were invented as there were Asoka's buddha statues which already been introduced to china from a long time ago. These Asoka's statues worked a lot of miracles and even this divine nature can be reproduced by copying the original statues exactly same. It become a stronghold of rushing statues to worship. The most important point which this author would like to emphasis is that the buddha statues of early periods were accepted by peoples as statues which be produced at several hundred years ago in Asoka's reign or exquisite copies of very old style. This style can be named as "Antique(依古, yīgŭ) style". Another way to put on the authenticity to statues was derive from the legend of King Udhyana's invention of Buddha's image. This legend means that the King Udhyana's image had a authority as a real portrait of Sakyamuni. The style of most statues which were known to King Udhyana's belongs to indian Gupta style. So this style can be appreciate as a buddhistic realism. This might could be named as "Fidelity(眞容, zhēnróng) style".