Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c4.s2.50

v1.c4.s2.50

Yuchi Yiseng (during the 7ᵗʰ century CE) was a native of Khotan. In his youth, he was recommended to visit Chang’an by the King of Khotan and was highly appreciated by the imperial court. At that time, his murals could be seen in the big temples of Chang’an and Luoyang. He was adept at painting the Buddha and Bodhisattvas, and had a style characteristic of the Western Region. Wu Daozi (8ᵗʰ century CE) was a native of Yuxian of Henan and his legendary life was recorded in many documents. About 100 years after his death, he was called the “Sage of Painting”. He often did paintings at temples and his famous painting, “Birth of Gautama Buddha”, portraying Suddhodana and Mayadevi carrying the newly born Siddhartha to the Mahesvara can still be seen. In this painting, the figures all have a Chinese image. There were many other skilled artists as well.