2012 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Formation and development of Taoist images of worshipduring the Southern and Northern Dynasties in China

Research Project

Project/Area Number	23720053
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Research Field	Aesthetics/Art history
Research Institution	Seijo University
Principal Investigator	SAITO Ryuichi 成城大学, 民俗学研究所, 研究員 (70573385)
Project Period (FY)	2011 – 2012
Keywords	中国美術 / 道教美術 / 礼拝像 / 道教像 / 石造彫刻 / 中国南北朝時代
Research Abstract	This study investigates and examines images for worship, such as ‘Taoist’ statues, whose religious origins were in China, from the viewpoint of art history. In particular, this study analysed the emergence process of Taoiststatues and their development in each region during the Southern and Northern Dynasties (5th-6th centuries), which was known as the era of origin of these statues in China. On the basis of this analysis, we point out a clear association that existed in Taoist statues by comparing many works, focusing on a kind of Chinese armrest called ‘pingji’ and a kind of duster called ‘zhuwei’, which are characteristic attributes of the principal image.