Similarities Between The Yunggang And Longmen Cave

Political Aspirations Between Early & Late Periods The Yungang and Longmen caves are representative of different political aspirations and the adoption of Buddhism into cultural practices in the art of the Northern Wei Dynasty. The Yungang Buddha, made during the initial spread of Buddhism in China by artists traveling from those regions, is more stylistically similar to Mathura Buddhas. Whereas, the Longmen Buddha was made after the integration between Chinese culture and Buddhism started and was made by descendants/students of Chinese Buddhist practitioners and artists. The political aspirations of the Northern Wei Rulers changed with the construction of the Yungang and Longmen Buddhist caves. The Yungang Cave Buddha symbolized the founding
The Longmen Cave was constructed in memory of Emperor Xuan Wu's father. To align with the Chinese practices of family commemoration and to still suffice for practicing Buddhism. Being constructed after Buddhism could integrate with Chinese cultural art practices. The Longmen Caves are representative of Chinese influences on Buddhism. A thicker robe and hand sign that is more representative of Chinese culture and more similar to the Gandhara Buddhas. Alongside more whimsical, flowy Chinese iconography in the murals behind the Buddha, the halo that appears on the Buddha stretches upwards, meeting a lotus carving in the center of the ceiling, deities raining down from above with whimsical flowy trails. During this period, many Chinese artisans learned Buddhist culture, practices, and art trades. Allowing them to merge two incredibly different styles (McIntire, 2015). There is a 48-year difference between construction. Buddhism gained immense popularity in both Northern and Southern China during the beginning of the Northern Wei Dynasty. The Northern Wei Rulers leveraged their influence to better control the higher population of Chinese under their