China’s Buddhist artwork is generally split into two main styles: those prior to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) which display features typical of the Han Sect dominant in earlier years, and those of the Ming and Qing dynasties that show a distinct Tibetan style.

The Han Sect established predominance in China’s inland areas, where the Han ethnic group constituted the majority and Mandarin was the most commonly spoken language. Han Buddhism figures from the Southern and Northern Dynasties are slender with chiseled faces and unworldly expressions. Those of the Tang Dynasty, in contrast, are voluptuous and lavishly adorned. During the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Buddhist statues, with animated expressions, more realistically depicted the human form.

After inland China was plunged into chaos and destruction by conflicts at the end of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Han Buddhism declined in power and popularity, while Tibetan Buddhism steadily rose.

Today, figurines from the Ming and Qing dynasties are the most sought-after Buddhist relics. Those from the Ming Dynasty’s Yongle and Xuande periods, when the art of Buddhist sculpture reached its apex, are particularly desirable among collectors. The highest price for a Chinese Buddhist figure to date was fetched by a 72-cm gilded Sakyamuni of the Ming Yongle period, which was hammered out at HK $123.59 million at Hong Kong Sotheby’s 2006 autumn auction.

Source from China Today

Editor: Shi Liwei