观音三尊像的信仰转换及其图像演变

Faith Conversion of Three Statues of Goddess Guan Yin and Its Image Evolution

印度早期的观音三尊形式造像主要属于释迦信仰系统,其组合像式为释迦牟尼佛居中,观音与弥勒两旁胁侍;在佛教由印度向中国的传播中,观音三尊式造像向阿弥陀信仰系统转变,其组合像式为阿弥陀佛居中,观音与势至两旁胁侍;观音在两个不同信仰系统的三尊形式造像中转换的同时,其自身的图像特征也发生了一定的变化。

At early stage, the three forms of Goddess Guan Yin statues mainly belonged to Shakya belief system. The combined forms of it were positioned as following： Sakyamuni was in the middle, while Guan Yin and Mait- reya, the two retinues, were respectively on both sides. In the spreading process of Buddhism from India to Chi- na, the three forms of Guan Yin statues began to convert to Amitabha belief system with its combination distribu- ted like this： Amitabha took the central position, while the two retinues, Guan Yin and Mahasthamaprapta, served on either side. When Guan Yin converted in the three forms of statues which pertained two different belief systems, its image feature has also undergone certain changes.