北朝粟特人大会中祆教色彩的新图像——中国国家博物馆藏北朝石堂解析

New Images with Zoroastrian Flair in a General Assembly of Sogdians during the Northern Dynasties—Analytical Interpretations of the Outer Sarcophagus of the Northern Dynasties Collected in the National Museum of China

本文介绍了2012年入藏中国国家博物馆的一具北朝石椁,并对其形制与图像加以分析。此石椁为单檐歇山顶仿木殿堂式结构,门口和四角浮雕胡人卫士。外壁满饰线刻,内容包括神禽异兽、仙人、畏兽、墓主夫妇、拜火祭司、胡汉乐舞、车马出行等,应是对粟特人袄教大会场景的表现。这具石椁反映了北朝外来宗教在中国的传播以及中外文化的交融,具有很高的历史、文化和艺术价值。

This article describes an outer sarcophagus of the Northern Dynasties, a new acquisition of the Na- tional Museum of China in 2012, and analyzes its shape and form as well as the imagery. The outer sarcophagus imitates the structure of a wooden hall with a gable and hip roof. The sides of the doorway and the four corners are decorated with hu-barbarian guards in high relief. The outsides of outer sarcophagus walls have engraved line drawings with themes including supernatural birds and exotic animals, immortals, apotropaic beasts, the portraits of the tomb occupant couple, priests of Zoroastrianism, Hu-and Han-stylc music and dancing performances, and a procession scene of chariots and horses, presumably depicting the Zoroastrian general assembly of Sogdians. This outer sarcophagus is a reflection of the spread of foreign religions in China and the convergence of Chinese and foreign cultures during the Northern Dynasties and has high historical, artistic and cultural values.