敦煌与瓜州西夏时期石窟艺术的比较研究

A Comparative Study of Western Xia Period Buddhist Cave Art from Dunhuang and Guazhou

本文对敦煌和瓜州两地西夏时期石窟艺术的壁画题材、造型风格、供养人构成、艺术功能等进行了比较研究,认为敦煌与瓜州在西夏时期因政治状况、经济发展、军事形势等方面的明显差异而显示出不同的特点:动荡不安的敦煌,由于历史的惯性继续了归义军时期的制作佛教艺术的热情,但仅限于改建或补绘前朝石窟;而相对稳定而强势的瓜州则营建了一批特色鲜明、原创性极强的新窟,集中反映了西夏在文化艺术上取得的杰出成就。

This paper presents a comparative study on the themes, styles, constituents of donor figures, and artistic functions of Western Xia dynasty Buddhist cave murals from Dunhuang and Guazhou, and considers that the cave art of Dunhuang and Guazhou exhibit differing characteristics due to clear differences in the political conditions, economic development, and military situation respective to each region. In turbulent Dunhuang, although a passion for creating Buddhist art had been inherited as a result of historical inertia, activities were confined to rebuilding or painting existing caves; whereas in relatively stable and powerful Guazhou, a new group of caves were constructed that reflect in a concentrated form the outstanding achievements in culture and art produced by the Western Xia.