邯郸成安县出土的北魏太和六年释迦三尊像

Statues of the Northern Wei Sakyamuni Triad Unearthed from Cheng'an County in Handan

成安县出土的北魏太和六年释迦三尊像具有重要的学术价值。其造象样式既表现出来自云冈石窟造像的影响,同时又展现了来自南朝秀骨清像的塑画风格的影响。正面释迦佛两侧的胁侍像,应认定为帝释天和大梵天。其图像来源与犍陀罗艺术有关,更直接的来源应是长安。释迦三尊像背面的无量寿佛是目前所见北魏时期最早的造像实例,其所表现的净土信仰应来源于长安佛教。

The Shakyamuni Buddha triad image, dated the 6th year of Taihe （482）, which was unearthed in Cheng＇an County, Hebei Province, bears significant scholarly value. The style of the image attests to the influence of the Yungang Caves, and of the elegant and refined style from the South. The two attendants are identified as Indra （Sakradevanam） and Mahabrahman. The origin of the iconography is associated with Gandhara art, however, it is more closely linked to that of Chang＇an. The seated Buddha on the reverse side of the image is the earliest extant image of Amitayus Buddha of the Northern Wei （386-534）. The Pure Land belief reflected in the iconography originated from Buddhism in Chang＇an.