So China and Japan are working together on the preservation? That is good news.

There was no date on the film. Googled and came up with a date for start of work in 1951, last date mention was 1999. Again we bump up against information release times.

At 1:35, you mentioned that the Buddha is believed to be sponsored by the Empress Wu Zetian (武则天). She surely had a strong connection with Buddhism, but was it the only reason for her to be interested in sponsoring this particular Buddha sculpture?

Hope it helps. There are multiple claims stating that Zetian is building the statues partly according to her own face. This is like some sign of giving her the legitimacy of rule in a male dominated society. Moreover, Zetian sponsored a great number of translation works of buddhist canons, supported the woodblock printing of some, which survived in a stupa in Kyoengju, S. Korea, and wrote a famous verse lauding the supremacy of buddhist teachings (开经偈), which is often recited prior to reading sutras by buddhists. The aforementioned legitimacy may, to some extent, come from her building her impression in the public as a buddhist empress.

I have never heard of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Was it a short dynasty or like an unpopular one?

The Northern Wei Dynasty was more than a century long. It existed from 386 to 534/5.

Main content

Longmen Grottoes (UNESCO/NHK)

Name: Longmen Grottoes (UNESCO/NHK)
Uploaded: 2014-11-06T20:53:48Z
Description: The grottoes and niches of Longmen contain the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art of the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316-907). These works, entirely devoted to the Buddhist religion, represent the high point of Chinese stone carving.

Google Classroom

The grottoes and niches of Longmen contain the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art of the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316-907). These works, entirely devoted to the Buddhist religion, represent the high point of Chinese stone carving.

Want to join the conversation?

Sort by:

BrianWillott
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to BrianWillott's post “So China and Japan are wo...”
So China and Japan are working together on the preservation? That is good news.
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(7 votes)
Answer
- Dana Hager
  Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Dana Hager's post “There was no date on the ...”
  There was no date on the film. Googled and came up with a date for start of work in 1951, last date mention was 1999. Again we bump up against information release times.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (4 votes)
Margaret
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Margaret's post “At 1:35, you mentioned th...”
At
1:35
, you mentioned that the Buddha is believed to be sponsored by the Empress Wu Zetian (武则天). She surely had a strong connection with Buddhism, but was it the only reason for her to be interested in sponsoring this particular Buddha sculpture?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(1 vote)
Answer
- Jinrui Zhang
  Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Jinrui Zhang's post “Hope it helps. There are ...”
  Hope it helps. There are multiple claims stating that Zetian is building the statues partly according to her own face. This is like some sign of giving her the legitimacy of rule in a male dominated society. Moreover, Zetian sponsored a great number of translation works of buddhist canons, supported the woodblock printing of some, which survived in a stupa in Kyoengju, S. Korea, and wrote a famous verse lauding the supremacy of buddhist teachings (开经偈), which is often recited prior to reading sutras by buddhists. The aforementioned legitimacy may, to some extent, come from her building her impression in the public as a buddhist empress.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (5 votes)
Erick253
Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to Erick253's post “Wait so are the Ajanta Ca...”
Wait so are the Ajanta Caves and The Longmen caves similar?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(2 votes)
Answer
Ray ahm
Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Ray ahm's post “I have never heard of the...”
I have never heard of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Was it a short dynasty or like an unpopular one?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(1 vote)
Answer
- drszucker
  Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to drszucker's post “The Northern Wei Dynasty ...”
  The Northern Wei Dynasty was more than a century long. It existed from 386 to 534/5.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (2 votes)
Residuum
Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Residuum's post “If it is mostly filled wi...”
If it is mostly filled with Buddhist statues, why is it called The Longmen Grottoes?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(0 votes)
Answer
David Alexander
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to David Alexander's post “What happened to these ar...”
What happened to these artistic and religious treasures during the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution operated by the Maoists in the 1960s and 70s? Were they neglected, protected or damaged?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(0 votes)
Answer

AP®︎/College Art History

Course: AP®︎/College Art History > Unit 10

Longmen Grottoes (UNESCO/NHK)

Want to join the conversation?

Video transcript