Dunhuang's Art
Buddhist Stories
Many Buddhist stories are depicted in the Dunhuang caves. These stories can be divided into four types: Jataka Stories, Hetupratyaya Stories, Sakyamuni's Biography and Buddhist Historical Stories.
Jataka Stories describe the previous life of the Buddha when he was a deer, a king, a prince, a lion or a hare. The Buddha's virtuous activities explain his final achievement and set up a model for his believers.
Hetupratyaya Stories focus on the relationship between "cause" and "effect." Varied narratives are used to convey the same religious/ philosophical idea that there must be a "cause" behind an "effect."
Sakyamuni's Biography tells the whole story of the Buddha's life, from his birth to his death. More than eighty episodes of the Buddha's life can be seen in the Dunhuang murals.
Buddhist Historical Stories concentrate on important events took place in the history of Buddhism. Prominent monks, pious emperors, devoted lay believers, and miraculous Buddhist events are recorded in Buddhist historical texts and depicted in the Dunhuang paintings.
Source: silk-road.com
|
