Afghanistan; Central Asia; Buddhism; ritual sites; sculpture
摘要
The Kyoto University Archaeological Mission carried out research on the Bamiyan caves in Afghanistan between 1970 and 1978. We aimed at making a general photogrammatic map of the whole area, attributing numbers to all the caves and documenting their murals. The principal cliff extends over 1,300 m linear distance and its maximum height is 150 m. More than 750 Buddhist caves were hollowed out along this cliff. The caves consist of several types of construction: two niches of standing Grand Buddhas, five niches of Seated Buddhas, domed‐ceiling caves, vaulted‐ceiling caves, laternendecke‐ceiling caves and flat ceiling caves. About fifty caves have murals remaining inside; various types of figures are depicted in these: buddhas, decorated buddhas, boddhisatva figures (particularly Avalokitesvara) and circular mandala motifs are popular Some designs were influenced by Sassanian art.
目次
Abstract 282 Buddhist cave temples across Asia 282 Afghanistan's cave temples 286 The Bamiyan caves 287 Mapping the caves 288 The grand Buddha statues 291 Architecture and cave function 293 Buddhist ornamentation 296 Grand Buddha niche paintings 297 Dating the caves 299 Modern fate of the caves 299 Acknowledgements 301 Note 301 References 301
