The beauty of Mahayana Buddhism Northern Wei Dynasty, China

Abstract

The beauty of Buddha sculpture in each period is different as a matter of taste in those days. This taste from the belief herein is the belief in Mahayana Buddhism, a belief in scriptures, rule of the people, the way of life of the townspeople, the landscape, the knowledge of the builders, obtainable materials used to create, examples of previously created works. These are all elements that make the form of the Buddha's beauty. There are different and various forms of beauty. The Northern Wei Dynasty was a nomadic dynasty for over a hundred years. There is a city in the north of China. During that time, many dynasties were divided but the Northern Wei dynasty returned to rule the country. The rule of the country that Chinese society at that time still believed in Confucianism and Taoism. As for Buddhism, it has not yet prospered, causing the Northern Wei Dynasty to use Mahayana Buddhism as a state religion to rule the country. Even if, once, it had been burnt to destroy all faith because the institution of government may be unstable. However, Mahayana Buddhism became the state religion again that can be confirmed is the creation of the Buddha sculpture, Shakyamuni, the Maitreya, which formed the beauty of the first sculpture of a large size. Beauty is a combination of external and local art. An example is the Yungang Cave No. 16-20. The second period has more of its vernacular beauty. Because of the popular Chinese culture, for example, at Yungang Cave No. 5-6 and Pingyang Cave, the caves outside the capital have a mix of cultural and artistic influences.