Multifaceted Studies on Techniques of Mural Painting at Buddhist Grottoes in Gansu, China

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H05902
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Cultural assets study and museology
• Research Institution: National Museum of Ethnology (2016, 2018); Kansai University (2017)
• Principal Investigator: SUEMORI KAORU 国立民族学博物館, 学術資源研究開発センター, 機関研究員 (90572511)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 中国仏教美術 / 壁画 / 技法・材料 / 麦積山石窟 / 光学調査 / 年代測定 / 敦煌莫高窟 / 千仏図

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This multifaceted study targeted the techniques and materials of the mural paintings depicted in Maijishan Grottoes and Mogao Grottoes in Gansu Province, China. By using optical photographic examination, much information contained in the mural paintings was visualized. Also, the characteristics of painting materials and the structure of mural paintings were revealed by using XRF analysis and CT scanning. The results of carbon dating of Maijishan mural fragments showed that the date of the most fragments matches with the date of existing chronology, while the date of some fragments was different from that. Through analyzing the coloring pattern and arrangement of the thousand Buddha image depicted in Mogao Grottoes, the characteristics of cave spaces in each era were revealed.

Free Research Field

文化財科学、中国仏教美術史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

シルクロードの一部である河西回廊沿いの仏教石窟に残される壁画や造像は、仏教の教義や儀礼、仏教の伝播の歴史などを伝える貴重な資料である。古代仏教壁画の制作技法・材料に関する多面的な研究で得られた成果は、制作当時の文化の様相を示す物証であり、制作年代、描写方法に関する客観的データを示すとともに、中国に仏教が伝来した初期における仏教文化の諸相を明らかにするものである。