Thesis (M.A.)--Zhongguo wen hua xue yuan. / Reproduced from ms. copy. Includes bibliographical references (p. 1-6, 4th group)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Yale University, 1985. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 258-272).

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This study explores the significance of Dunhuang 敦煌 iconography from the perspective of Buddhist philosophy. The time span of the Dunhuang iconography of the Grottoes runs from the 4th to the 14th centuries. This wide coverage makes it extremely valuable for revealing the developments in art, history, culture, and religious activities in China, and neighbouring regions along the Silk Road. Most scholars have approached the Dunhuang Grottoes from the perspectives of art, history, or archaeology. However, studying the Dunhuang Grottoes from the perspective of Buddhist philosophy has remained under-researched, and therefore, less exhaustively dealt with. It is in Dunhuang Mogao 莫高 Cave 45 that one can see the most well preserved Buddha statue group, and the only Guanyin S?tra 觀音經, i. e. the Chapter of the Universal Gateway of Avalokite?vara Bodhisattva 普門品 from the Saddharmapu??ar?ka S?tra 妙法蓮華經, painted on one entire wall. This dual association has rendered Cave 45 the most ideal source for this research. In this research, Buddhist iconography will be studied in the light of Buddhist philosophy. The study also takes into account triangulation of data collected through various sources, namely: (1) Field trips in Dunhuang and related areas for primary data collection; (2) Image analyses of data collected from primary and secondary sources; (3) Verification of data in the light of both ancient and modern Buddhist literature. The research will be focused on identifying Buddhist philosophy from the mural paintings of the Guanyin S?tra and on the conceptualized understanding of the material as presented in the paintings. The causes of suffering will be identified after examining the thirty-three manifestations / appearances of Avalokite?vara as depicted here. The scenes of various desires as identified and conceptualized in the mural painting of the Cave 45 will also be studied. The Buddha statue in the centre of the statue group portrays cessation of suffering. The statues of bodhisattvas and disciples along both sides, with different facial expressions and body gestures, portray the different levels of cessation of suffering, all leading to ultimate awakening and full emancipation. In this connection, the missing pair of statues in the statue group will also be explored and identified. It is true that Dunhuang iconography, as exemplified through Cave 45, can be approached from many perspectives. However, the primary objective of this study is to show that the Dunhuang iconography is designed as an artistic portrayal of the fundamental teachings of Buddhism. / published_or_final_version / Buddhist Studies / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Harvard University, 1997. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (p. 323-347).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Berkeley, 1989. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (p. 160-175).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Yale University, 1985. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (v. 1., p. 258-272).

 The group cave-temples in Dunguang, Gansu Province of north-western China offer an unparalleled display of grotto art of over a thousand years from the fourth century to the fourteenth century. They represent a microcosm of ancient and medieval civilizations, providing us with enormous opportunities of heritage experience and understanding. However, these grotto treasures are extremely fragile. Over the centuries they have been suffering from serious deterioration and damage due to human and natural causes, and in recent decades the ever-increasing visitor load has posed even greater threat to the murals. The emerging trend of using advanced technology in the preservation and the interpretation of the grotto art offers new possibilities of remote access and interpretation which shall enhance understanding and enjoyment of the cultural treasures. This dissertation sets out to examine such trend of digital interpretation of heritage in off-site scenarios. The research includes a background of the study, the significance of the Dunhuang Caves, the application of new technology, followed by a case study of re-presenting and interpreting one of the Dunhuang caves in Hong Kong. / published_or_final_version / Conservation / Master / Master of Science in Conservation

This thesis examines the visual images of Vimalakirti, an ancient Indian lay Buddhist, painted on the walls of the Buddhist cave complex at Dunhuang, Gansu province, between 581 and 1036. The sixty-nine Vimalakirti, paintings preserved at Dunhuang are a valuable source for the exploration of historical, religious, and artistic dimensions of wall paintings and sutras. These visual images, together with other textual sources such as sutras, commentaries, and inscriptions, suggest a variety of interesting questions: Why was this theme repeatedly represented? Do the images all have the same prototype? Is there a spiritual function contained in the layout of the caves and composition of the wall paintings? Did the meaning of these images change according to historical context? Did the patrons have a political scheme in mind when commissioning these devotional artworks? While it is difficult to provide definitive answers to all these questions, this thesis will attempt to clarify them and offer preliminary answers on the basis of available visual and textual sources. / The introduction of this thesis includes an overview of basic concepts related to wall paintings, a short history of the transmission of the Vimalakirti,-nirdesa Sutra, and a review of past scholarship on Vimalakirti, paintings and related subjects. The body of the thesis is divided into three main chapters. The first chapter describes the important visual representations of Vimalakirti, before the Sui dynasty. The second chapter of the thesis will provide an introduction to representations of Vimalakirti, at Dunhuang from the late sixth to the early eleventh centuries. The third chapter examines the social functions and symbolic meanings of the Vimalakirti, paintings at Dunhuang.

No description available.