西夏瓜州佛教洞窟营建的时代特性

On the date and characteristic of the Buddhist caves in Guazhou

瓜州是西夏统治的重要地区,也是西夏佛教的重镇,榆林窟和东千佛洞的西夏洞窟及其精美的壁画,虽然数量有限,但却是西夏佛教艺术的代表,能够体现多元艺术互动交融的西夏艺术精神,也是具有汉藏艺术灵魂的西夏艺术精品。通过梳理瓜州洞窟营建的历史,结合洞窟壁画强调新样及新样的善变特性,可以看到瓜州地区西夏洞窟的营建功德主们,作为西夏新政权的统治阶层党项人,把瓜州的佛教洞窟营建作为他们与中央政府在佛教信仰方面保持高度一致的基本宗旨和核心思想的体现,瓜州成为这些新型的地方统治阶层功德主们展示真正具有西夏时代特性的佛教艺术场所。

Guzhou was fundamental in the Western Xia regime, and significant for the Western Xia Buddhism. The Yulin Cave and eastern Qianfo Cave are of delicate mural paintings. They are the most representative of the Western Xia art, which reflect interaction and fusion among multiple cultures. The author analyzes the construction history of the Guazhou caves, and discusses the new and ever changing patterns. The sponsors of the caves, who were also the ruling elites of the Western Xia regime, embedded their political statements in Buddhist art expressions. Therefore, Guazhou became the stage of the rising local elites to demonstrate Buddhist art of the Western Xia style.