Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c11.s4.t2.16.2

v2.c11.s4.t2.16.2

generally mimicking the Indian oval shaped thatched cottage form. The big stone carving Buddha statues of the Five Tanyao Caves on one hand permeates the notion of “King is Buddha” in the Northern Wei Dynasty, emphasising the imperial dignity and personality characteristics of the imperial dignified manner from appearance, temperament, and decoration. On the other hand, the expression style of clothing lines in the modelling tradition of Gandhara Buddha statues or Gupta Mathura Buddha statues. The main statues of the Five Tanyao Caves are Buddhas of Three Periods, and the main Buddha is unusually tall. The standing statue of the main Buddha in the 18ᵗʰ cave is 15.5 mt tall, the sitting statue of the main Buddha in the 19ᵗʰ cave is 16.8 mt tall, and the sitting statue of the main Buddha in the 20ᵗʰ cave is 14 mt tall. These standing or sitting Buddha in the shrine-shaped cave are reminiscent of the big Buddha statues in Bamian or Qiuci. The modelling of the main Buddha statues have high rounded buns and plump faces, with two ears hanging to the shoulders, eyes seeing the distance, wide shoulder and thick chest, vigorous body profile, mostly in cassock with exposed right side. The clothing lines are neat and pattern-like, full of the features of the idealised image of the leader of the northern nationality in China.