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Characters in Tubo Clothes and Miniature Vimalakirti Sutra Paintings in Dunhuang Frescoes

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DOI: 10.25236/ssehr.2018.028

Author(s)

Jianpeng Wei

Corresponding Author

Jianpeng Wei

Abstract

Vimalakirti is the name of a Bodhisattva. Vimalakirti Sutra Paintings in Cave No.159 and Cave No.9 of Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang were drawn during the period of Tubo (Tibetan regime in ancient China) in late Tang Dynasty. The two paintings have the same theme; they are representative works of different periods. They manifest the patterns of Miniature Vimalakirti Sutra Paintings through Pusa Xing Pin (the conduct of Bodhisattva), and show the same emotional tendencies towards characters in Tubo clothes in different historical periods. Combining with the political status of Zhang during the period of Tubo, as well as the cooperation and competition between Yi'chao Zhang and Tubo generals when the Guiyi Army Regime was establishing, the special description of Tibetan characters in Miniature Vimalakirti Sutra Paintings in Cave No.159 and Cave No.9 may also reflect the attitudes of Zhang's family and even the upper class of the Guiyi Army towards the Tubo Regime. Officially showing hostility, they actually befriended to the Tubo government.

Keywords

Dunhuang, Tubo, Vimalakirti Sutra, Sutra Paintings