The Image Analysis on Apsara and Sariputta in Vimalakirti Sutra: Taking the areas of the Central China in Sui Dynasty and Dunhuang in Tang Dynasty as examples

摘要

This paper mainly examines the Apsara and Sariputta's performance in Vimalakirti Sutra in the central China of Sui Dynasty and Tang Dunhuang area. It believes that in Sui dynasty, the overall intention of Apsara and Sariputta's performance was vague, but it also gradually formed a fixed pattern of manifestation. In the early stage of Tang Dynasty, Dunhuang was mainly expressing the plot about the heavenly maids scattering blossoms. Later in Tang Dynasty, it added some additional changes about the Apsara and Sariputta. In this paper, based on the characters' postures, gestures, I figured out the specific identities of the four characters and two kinds of configuration forms.