| Summary: | 碩士 === 華梵大學 === 東方人文思想研究所 === 99 === The thought of "Vimalakirtinirdesa- Sutra” is very popular in the era of Wei-Jin dynasty. In general, the original graphics or sculptures of the stories of Buddhism, Jataka stories, pictures of Buddha teachings or "Pure Land" can be found in India or Central Asia. However, Vimalakirti images or "murals of the Vimalakirtinirdesa-Sutra” were theoretically created by Chinese people and were not seen in India or other areas. Most of the existing Vimalakirti statues are found in northern China and the ones in Maijishan are the most representative of the styles and artistic characteristics of the central China sculpture making.
Maijishan grotto art seeks to present the serene dignified realm of art, focus on different parts’ coordination and wholeness. Its sculpting images have fine characterization in various forms with interesting expressions to show different characters’ inner sides. This indicates that Maijishan grotto art is featured with both realism and secular art.
Among all Vimalakirti images, Manjusri asked illness goods has been most frequently found from Bingling Temple, Yungang Grottoes, the Longmen Grottoes and the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, and several other regions. The form showed a trend of gradual change from a simple "one paragraph presentation" to "multi-paragraphs presentation", that is, the earlier the production was, the more simple form of the murals of Vimalakirtinirdesa-Sutra was. Almost all early production presented the simple form of single paragraph. Buddhism Sutra translation has been more complete towards modern era and the thoughts have been widely accepted by average people, therefore, the content presentation has a rich variety. This is shown in a mural that has all thirteen scriptures of the "Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra".
Buddhism sutras preach different contents and each has a main idea. The original images focused on single sutra’s content but later the cave figures mixed different sutras of the same thoughts together so that there is multiplying effects to guide people’s understanding of their contents. In murals of the Wei-Jing Dynasty era, " Vimalakirtidesa-Sutra","Lotus Sutra" and "Nirvana Sutra" often appeared together in statue forms of the same Buddhist Grottoes. This transformation of the murals of the Vimalakirtinirdesa-Sutra from "single sutra presentation" to "multiple sutras presentation" explains the trend of systematization and integration of Buddhism thoughts. " Vimalakirtinirdesa-Sutra" and "Lotus Sutra" show more Dharma teachings of convenient and skillful uses to guide the sentient beings entering the door of Dharma teaching so they know that "paradise" is such a solemn Buddhist Pure Land.
Master Vimalakirti talked talently with a clear mind and supernatural power. He understood where the hearts of sentient beings go and knew how to help them with wisdom. His understanding and practice of Buddhist Dharma reached the highest state of mind and set an example and is a roll model for many ordinary people in this world. The images and pictures of the murals of the Vimalakirtinirdesa-Sutra brought rich and abundant changes to the Chinese society and literature, thus making the murals of Vimalakirtinirdesa-Sutra more meaningful and valuable in history.
Key words: Maijishan Grottoes, Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra, murals,statues
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