北朝菩萨造像圆形肩饰及相关问题

A Study on the Circular Epaulets on Bodhisattva Statues from the Northern Dynasties

麦积山北魏晚期以来部分窟龛内菩萨造像肩部均出现有一组对称排列的圆形饰物,或下有数条饰带,或与胸部缀饰的璎珞相连,起到庄严装饰效果,这种技法在同时期的陕西、河南、山东、河北等地菩萨造像中也多有发现,但相关佛教名物却未见记载。这一现象并非偶然,应是当时北魏统治者吸纳南朝文化因素,摹拟中原礼仪制度,对外来佛教造像装饰艺术改造、创新的一种时代痕迹。同时,对于判定北朝晚期到隋唐之际佛教造像的年代也具有一定参考价值。

Beginning in the late Northern Wei dynasty,a group of symmetrically arranged circular ornaments appeared on the shoulders of many statues of Bodhisattvas in various cave niches in the Maijishan Grottoes.Some of these epaulets are adorned with ribbons,while others are connected to the ornamental jade necklaces that hang on the chest of the Bodhisattvas,creating a solemn,decorative effect.This stylistic touch has also been found in many Bodhisattva statues created during the same period in Shanxi,Henan,Shandong,Hebei and other places,though no mention is made of this technique in historical records regarding objects related to Buddhist art.Tracing the history of these epaulets shows that the rulers of the Northern Wei dynasty absorbed the culture of the Southern Dynasties and imitated the systems of etiquette in the Central Plains,and then used these cultural resources to transform or innovate the decorative artused in Buddhist statuary.In addition,understanding these objects has significant reference value for determining the age of Buddhist statues created between the late Northern Dynasties and the Sui and Tang dynasties.