The Technique of Creating Buddhist Polychrome Sculpture

Abstract

This work focuses on the origin, development, evolution of the Chinese art of polychrome sculpture, as well as philosophical ideas, national specificities, cultural content, a religious concept, artistic specificity and aesthetic ideas manifested in this context. The study provides a picture of how the cultural specificities of China are expressed in art and how spirituality is reflected in works of art. An objective description and complete historical research of the mentioned historical sites increase the available information on them and are meant to strengthen measures intended for their protection. The first comprehensive and detailed analysis of the technology for creating Chinese traditional Buddhist polychrome sculpture is presented in the article.The subject-matter of the artworks, the characteristics of the material used to create them, and the sculpting methods are fully analyzed through the method of a thorough study of the current state of the preserved polychrome sculpture in the Shuanglin Monastery. Two thousand and fifty-four statues of polychrome sculpture, the main of which are Buddha (佛祖), Bodhisattva (菩萨), Heavenly Kings (天王) and Arhat (罗汉) are preserved in the monastery. They are divided into two large groups: circular form sculptures and bas-reliefs. Clay, wood, water, straw, and mineral pigments are the main materials used for the creation of Buddhist polychrome sculptures. Modeling and polychrome painting are two main technologies in the process of making sculptures. Modeling consisted of creating a frame, applying coarse clay and sculpting a large-scale figure, applying medium density clay, applying thin layers of clay and creating details, whitening, bas-relief painting with the chalk-glue mixture, gilding, painting, etc. From the point of view of form, the ancient Chinese Buddhist polychrome sculpture as a work of religious art had to correspond to Buddhist canons. Before starting the process of creating a statue, a craftsman had to make a sketch. During modeling, an artist was guided by the secrets of the craft passed down orally from a teacher to his student and summarized as a technical guide by his predecessors. Statue of Skanda. Dynasty Min. Shuanglin Buddhist polychrome sculpture as a form of fine art with an elaborated form and rich spiritual content perfectly combines technology and artistry.