Recent studies have turned to material evidence to more fully understand the practice of Buddhism; in earlier times, scriptural studies dominated scholarship. The kinds of material are many and varied, ancient or new, an artefact, ritual performance, epigraphical writing, charm, chant, talisman, an icon and more. This paper examines the extraordinarily large cache of over 2000 sculptures and sculptural fragments dating from the fifth to sixth century that in 2012 was uncovered in Yecheng City, Linzhang County, in Hebei Province. One of the first questions raised is why were they buried? Notwithstanding this mystery, these icons are an important contribution to the extant evidence of medieval Buddhist art in north China. Bearing dates and inscriptions, the sculptures help to establish a chronological development of style, iconography and religious practices. Looking at the Yecheng finds also evinces Buddhism’s role in the history of this region of north China and the multi-faceted and complex nature of Buddhist practice, which is conditioned by local history and traditions – craftsmanship, patronage and materials. resulting in unique characteristics at various nearby sites. What is more, the manner of the burial of the sculptures occurs at several contemporary neighboring Buddhist sites, raising the intriguing question: Why were thousands of damaged images interred at about the same time in the general vicinity of the ancient capital of Ye – similar icons were mysteriously laid to rest at the Xiude Pagoda in Quyang, Hebei and in Qingzhou in Shandong; and another cache was found in nearby Changzhi in Shanxi. The Yecheng find will be viewed in the context of these sites as well.
目次
Abstract 157 Discovery 159 Buddhism in Ancient Yecheng 162 Buddhist Icons from Bei Wuzhuang 164 Iconography 177 Summation 189 Comparative Contemporary Regional Finds 191 Bibliography and Abbreviations 200
