Introduction
Buddhist sculptures arose out of the belief system that produced
them. They are derived from the
iconography in Buddhist sutras. Buttressed by the popular religious concepts of the time, they
aptly convey the spiritual content in which the religion is rooted. Believers thought that the
production of these sculptures would bring about good fortune; practitioners meditated with
these images in order to bring about a deeper understanding and wisdom. Religious sermons made
use of such profound sculptures to align and intensify the believers' conception of the Buddhist
realm.
Among single Buddhist sculptures, one often finds sculptures of
the Buddha, Buddhist monks,
Bodhisattvas and guardian deities. The Buddha is at the core of the belief and represents the
attainment of enlightenment. Disciples rendered in the form of monks transmitted his teachings
after his death. Bodhisattvas were made in the image of a secular, royal prince—having reached
Buddhahood, they chose to stay in this world in order to assist those who have not. Guardian
deities look ferocious, but they avert physical enemies and internal demons. Then there are
stupas, representing Nirvana. All these come together to compose the fundamental elements of
Buddhist art.
Besides the religious content of Buddhist sculptures, these
objects also possess their
independent artistic merit. Northern Wei sculptures tend to be modest and simple. T'ang
sculptures are often rotund and lively. Starting from the Sung era, sculptures became more
closely associated with ordinary people. In addition to revealing the technical development of
each period, they also reflect their makers' standards of beauty. Thus, appreciating religious
sculpture not only imparts their ideological ideals, but also conveys universal concepts of
beauty.